Specialization
A few years ago,
I asked a college professor
to give me
the formulation
of those universal concepts
embodied
in the universal message
of universal universities
that will enable
the common man
to create
a universal economy.
And I was told
by the college professor:
"That is not my subject."
Colleges and universities
give to the students
plenty of facts
but very little understanding.
They turn out specialists
knowing more and more
about less and less.
I'm hoping to receive many facts this semester, but also much understanding.
I wrote an easy essay about my first visit to the Western (or wailing) Wall, a holy site for Jews and others. Our group has toured the old city of Jerusalem a few times since being here and the poem embodies some of my thought processing:
A Westerner at the Western Wall
“Then my
soul shall rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in
his deliverance. All my bones shall say,
‘O
Lord, who is like you?’” Psalms
35:9-10
A Jewish man prays
with all his bones.
He swings
back
and forth,
at the hips,
back
and forth,
while reading
very loudly
from a book,
uttering something
unintelligible.
A charismatic Christian worships
with all his bones.
He swings
back
and forth,
at the hips,
back
and forth.
He reads
from a book,
sings
very loudly,
and utters something
unintelligible.
Does God hear
them both?
Here is a video of Jews praying at the Western Wall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsX5t_wYoYM
My time in Israel has been great so far. Everyone in my group is interesting and I'm sure there is much in store for us all in the months ahead. Keeps us in your prayers.
