Sociologists and philosophers have long noted the human need to join with one another. While we need to temporarily adjust some features of our educational endeavor until the pandemic abates, it is, in my view, more important than ever that we be with one another during this educational process-that we be part of a community. Indeed, today I am going to double down on the concept of gathering and proximity, believing that these are eternal principles that will remain applicable well beyond COVID and likely well beyond this mortal existence. Instead, even though we are wearing masks-and even though I am still strongly urging each of you to get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already-I am unwilling to concede to the coronavirus. Given the apparent limited shelf life of my message about the importance of physically gathering and the continued, unwelcome presence of the pandemic, some might think this devotional would present me with a good opportunity to confess my error and admit that COVID has permanently changed everything, including the desirability of gathering in a compact society. Like so many other things, the desirability of physical proximity and compact society seemed to be radically altered by the coronavirus. Talk about a statement that did not age well. Six months later, that message of gathering and proximity was suddenly replaced by a plea to scatter and socially distance. the kind of education that is most important. Citing the observation by early Church leaders that “compact society is absolutely necessary” 1 to the educational enterprise, I boldly proclaimed, “There is something about physical proximity-about gathering in a compact society-that is essential to. In my opening devotional two years ago, I spoke on the need for us to physically gather together in Provo. I join Peggy in welcoming you to this new semester.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |