Knowing

Paper Written by Gloria Wood as a student at Hamline University in 1971 for Epistemology Class


Knowledge! The very word has become an enigma to me. When in a fighting spirit, I wrestle with it, hammer away at it, give it every ounce of energy – demanding answers. When disappointed and defeated, I lapse helplessly into idle speculation, drifting aimlessly from one glimmer of truth to the next, seeking answers. But whatever that monstrous, unfathomable word demands – I do not have it to give – cannot give it. I do not have the answer! It means too much perhaps, the word has become so filled with meaning it is now everything and nothing. Has it gone past or beyond all meanings into the incomprehensible!
But you say, “look here...” and you may demonstrate your logic and your proofs – you may show me empirically, you may tap the mighty forces of intuition but the vastness of what is demanded in the name of knowledge is too immense, too great – it is mind-shattering! In our humanness we scurry to security and seek to protect ourselves from the blast of “not-knowing”! And cloaked in the various systems and theories of knowledge, we have fashioned and invented to cover our nakedness – we somehow survive. But if we are honest, perhaps in rare moments, we see through, above and beyond all of mans” so-called theories of knowledge and experience the terror and agony of absolute “not-knowing”.

Connection

Life on Earth has gone forward since the beginning to this current moment. It has been unfolding in great explosive surges of pulsing energy. Looking at that parade of time and events, I wonder what my role has been. Am I connected to all that has been and ever will be? Do I join in with my short burst of energy in this brief moment? What does this life that I live require of me? And at what level do I call forth the answers? Because I am somehow joined to everything that has ever been or ever will be, I was there at the beginning and will be there at the very end. Moment by moment the challenges present themselves and moment by moment I am called upon to respond. And it seems that each singular response is part of the grand eternal response, the song that we all sing. When I respond with love and compassion the energy within and without grows brighter and when I respond with negativity and separateness the energy grows darker. And it seems that that participation in energy extends in all directions and across time and space. It is awesome and humbling to participate in this eternal flow of life and energy. It means that there is every moment a choice to support and enlarge the flow of positive energy or contract and reduce the flow. I see it all as a great breathing in and out, a great pulse of life reflecting the united massive flow of light and darkness.

God is Love

I know that God is. I don't know who or what or where God is. When I try to think about God my mind goes blank with numbness as I struggle for some form of adequate definition. There are no words. The notion of God is as vast as the universe and more. Beyond where I can see, feel or imagine. So far beyond the foolish mutterings of mortal men that I turn away from their foolishness. And yet, I know that where there is love, there is God. I can see it in the eyes of a loving mother holding her newborn child, I can feel it with the simple love and devotion of a caring friend or loyal and faithful pet. I can envision the force of love transforming this violent and evil world someday. Where there is love, there is God, where there is no love...there is no God.

Titanic View of Health-care Reform

The debate over our current health care crisis reminds me of the chaos on the Titanic. The story is a good example of what we do when we believe our survival depends on getting a seat in the life boats, regardless what is happening to others. Certain passengers were given the seats in the life boats and others went down with the ship. What made some lives more important, worthy or deserving than others? Class, education, nationality, money? Would more people have survived had they all worked together to survive? I think so. Is it really possible to overcome the need for personal survival in a crisis long enough to work together? How do you get people to focus on the big picture as well as their own personal needs? I have the feeling that many of the people who are resisting health care reform are fairly comfortable in their own lifeboats and what happens to others...well, regrettably, cannot be helped.

We Went Fishing

 It was June 1st, the perfect summer day.  He wanted to go fishing.  He really wanted to go fishing before it was too late.  We bought poles and worms and finally a license.  Each step presented new obsticles and roadblocks but finally the way was clear.  We went fishing.  We did not go far, just down the road.  We found the perfect place on the perfect day and got our lines in the water.  I strive to remember the look on his face as he got his wish.  The sunshine lit up his face and the intense pleasure filled his whole being.  I worried about his hairless head getting sunburned and causing him even more pain.  I worried that he would get worn out and tired, or weak with pain.  I worried that he would get discouraged waiting for the fish to bite.  But none of that happened.  It was the perfect enchanted day.  For hours he caught fish, lots of little sunfish.  Each little fish was a triumph and trophy.  And when the sun was going down we finally loaded up the car and called it a day.  He caught the fish, he cleaned the fish, and he ate the fish.  What a day!  The most perfect day.  I want to remember every minute.  There really was so little time left...I wonder if he knew that?

One of My Favorite Photo Subjects: Mongo