Learning, Knowing, Discipline, Doing

The title says a lot. Maybe all?

We learn things in life. Often we do not know we are doing so. Little by little we gather bits and pieces of things that make sense, and then build on one another. Accumulating data, facts, relations among those same bits and pieces. Cause and effect relations emerge. We test those thoughts to see if they work. One plus one does equal two. Eight plus 4 minus 2 does equal 10.

Over time this process teaches us about the world, daily existence, getting along with others, or not; and a host of other sensical things that hold together logically. This is knowledge. Not single bits but related universes of bits and pieces. They hold together and mean things of larger weight and substance.

Again, over time, this knowledge is tested and used in expanded ways that yield more knowledge. A lot of discipline. A lot of knowledge. Even more awareness of the enormity of all that surrounds us. But it doesn’t frighten us; rather it enlightens and expands our knowledge of the universe.

We learn. We come to know. With discipline we learn more and know more. Now, what to do with all of this?

Well, that is a good question! What to do with it? Well, do something!  What are the needs we see that need to be addressed?  What solutions are possible to fill those needs? Let us use our knowledge and discipline to do something worthwhile about the needs we have noticed.

This is doing. This is finding purpose. This is what learning and knowing and discipline amount to: the ability to do. To be of use.

So, now we have a purpose. Let’s get busy doing.

Many will respond and get involved. Organizations will spring up and work the projects and meet the needs. Others will find more needs and engineer solutions for those as well. Even government agencies may get involved, preparing the way forward for a lot of volunteer hands. This is a community need, and it is solved by the community – large or small, town or city, or state or nation.

There will always be those who say, “Why me? Why must we fix things for other people? Can’t they do this themselves?”

Well, evidently not. Else why does the need exist in the first place? Poverty, ill health and disability are like that; they exist for little reason but cause much suffering for all, even the wealthy, the healthy and the full-bodied. The needs are a cancer in some manner; but they are also the reminder of our need to be of use, to be of purpose, and to share so others may live fuller lives. That is achieved by sharing the love.

Some will shirk the duty. The reasons are many, of course: too busy, doing good elsewhere, don’t agree with the purpose (it’s against my value structure), and so forth. I wonder at times if some of these people are just too lazy to understand where they acquired what they have. Did they earn it? Did they create it? Or did someone provide for them a helping hand, a talent, a good education, an upbringing that made getting along in life easier?

Are they afraid of losing this? Why? Because they know they didn’t fully earn it? Maybe that’s it. Maybe these folks aren’t lazy, just guilty? Hmmm. Hadn’t thought of that before. Sounds way too simple an answer. But maybe, just maybe, we should continue to think on that.

meanwhile, get to the doing.

July 18, 2018