Do we truly understand all that we claim to know?
Could not a conundrum be created between knowing and understanding?
Must we know it all to understand a lot?
To say you know. Do you really? And if so, how much of what you know do you truly care to understand?
I know how to use electronic devices such as a computer or vacuum, but I choose to understand only to the basic fundamental barriers. I get a bit of an ego to go further by knowing how to use certain computer applications and replace parts. Anything beyond what I’ve controlled or fixed is beyond me to want to understand or have time to learn how to do.
Are these not constrictions and limitations we put on ourselves or do we argue these were placed upon us? Choosing what is valuable with our time and thus, deciding what we want to do with our time, are we not granted freedom on how we should spend each moment?
Could I further understand the intricacies of how all appliances and applications work? Of course. Do I want to? Yes. Will I? Someday. Just not today. Until then, do we not create jobs to fulfill those very “some days” for others to handle in the meanwhile?
I want all my computers to work in my classroom each time a student turns one on with no glitches to take place. Just the same, I want to take for granted all my kitchen gadgets in my home will work accordingly within each use. I know my coffee maker that my older children gave me even with the letters now gone, but to understand how it works is not my need. Coffee can be set manually or automatically to drip out. I’m good with that level. Input. Output.
The understanding to be careful not to break something serves as a subconscious knowing that if to break, we then, face the predicament of having the lack or simply having to refuse to spend time, money, energy, or thinking matter to fix it. Thus, if broken, add onto the world’s “dumped” or let it sit there until we find something else to replace the now viewed useless item.
Does this not relate extensively to any of our invested time in anything and anyone?
Do we not want something to automatically work as we anticipate, but fret or frown upon the moment of its inability to please or serve our wants and needs?
We may claim to know something, but come the challenge to understand that very thing, do we rather not?
I point out why things are built to be replaced- there is more money in replacing than keeping things to work for a lifetime. Is there not? Does not the virtually indestructible purposefully cost more as to suggest that while the less valuable break or tear down faster, indeed it’s cheaper and thus, affordably replaceable in segments of time?
Should all things be viewed as materialistic matter where if broken or obsolete, the action is to replace? Is this how we should view all that we invested in? Do we? Do we not?
I know sports, but I only understand to a level of exposure in participation or watching. From merely a dabbler to amateur to professional to even after, coaching, owning, or running a team, levels of sacrifice can be from just using up a fraction of given time to sacrificing not just time, but heart, mind, body, and spirit to make each game, meet, competition, event, or fight victorious.
Knowing the desire for victory and being part of a winning team from the outside in is far from also knowing what it takes to get and maintain a win from the inside out. Understanding focus and discipline can only be known by those who must adhere to such structure and stability to remain ahead.
I am to remind myself that even if one must lose in the end, all started desiring to win. No one wanted to lose.
Are we not most likely to attend a paid game or competition when we know to be on the side of the winning team? No? How many attendants multiply when victory on the rooting team is most likely? How much less come to even root one on if the streak has long been a loss?
Do we accept to know who we root for, but dare admit to understand when and why?
How many wake up to already knowing support is bleak while the push to move forward must continue? Do we take time to connect that understanding is beyond just a game of sports?
I know teaching, but I understand only what I have taught. In all honesty, even when having taught a concept or lesson, there is much to learn before one could ever think to come close to mastery level. It takes a minimum of three years to be comfortable at just the specifics of a subject matter. There is the subject, the lessons, the levels, the concepts, and how to reach each individual child with differing levels within each class period, day in, day out. Year in. Year out. Year in, again.
Beyond the gruel and grind of believing and persevering, is not even a teacher still a learner? From exactness of concepts to cover to knowing how to approach certain students depending on their countenance, culture, or mindset, having to consider what just happened before they walked in, is there any teacher to truly consider themself a master?
Can a craft ever completed be perfected within one’s full control? Does a pilot ever anticipate the exactness of weather conditions, personalities of those onboard, and flight matters beyond thrust, lift, and trajectory?
As we wake and before we get up, is there not a pilot in each of us? Do we not plan for takeoff, arrive to the time, but lose guarantee of safe flight as soon as we are up and off to our destinations?
Set aside outside push and pull factors, mastering what can be within the locus of control is just the beginning. There is the knowing what to maintain and then, there is the understanding why one must need to maintain. Without that why, does anyone hardly try to understand how?
I know parenting, but I understand only the levels I have arrived to and worked toward to achieve with my husband. I have yet to understand the mastery of what to say or do in differing circumstances.
Every child is different. One could be extremely apologetic for having done wrong while another could find their choices of wrongdoings are simply due to the faults of others. Those moments and in between, from peaceful times to complex circumstances to endure, raising children is like trying to understand yourself in how you see another while trying to understand another so they can see you. This is all done under the sacrifice to love with great hope all the love stays unconditional.
There can be times where you think you’ve mastered the very craft of parenthood, but it is only routine you may have found order in. Come adolescent years where you must figure out what to say or do amongst the silence or the unexpected troubles, you can only try and remember to breathe to make it to another day. You wish to know every right words and actions and you find yourself defeated to know nothing more than at times to remain motionless and silent.
Knowing to be given the role of an adult, are we not each still a child growing trying to understand how to lead yet another child?
I know marriage, but sometimes, just when I think all is impenetrable and solidified, something out of realms of control, whether the inner spirit or outside energies, come shattering in as if to remind you that every day is a process of work in progress.
To share your dreams and aspirations with another for a lifetime while trying to help them reach theirs creates great and constant compromise. Add children to that and all else trying to be part of your circle and it’s as if you know who you were meant to or wanted to be, but struggle to understand the you that is becoming at times in the journey.
Trying to work on your marriage is like knowing if you don’t hit the gym regularly, strength will be lost and you will be losing much of what you’ve worked on.
I am but a beginner in strength training for every sprint and marathon in partnership.
Ultimately, when we think to know it all or even almost all, we run into a wall or a roadblock of just the beginning of understanding. Rather than turn to the mirror, asking what must be done, there is simply this refusal to look deep into the eyes of who is looking back. There is this truth that whispers, “You may think you know, but you hardly understand.” The understanding part… the part that takes you down when you thought you were highly up the entire time.
You know a lot of people on your social media, but how many would you say understand who you truly are?
When you think to know what you got yourself into, following the warmth, sheer excitement, and newness, did you fully understand what all entailed?
You know you want to move ahead, move forward, but do you understand clearly the path to follow and that several steps back, perhaps you should have already stopped to ask for directions?
Even when you know it was what you wanted, do you understand that you may not know until much too late that you pushed further away from what you needed?
You know you are driven to make change, but did you take time to understand and are willing to accept what that change could cost you and those around you?
How powerful to be one to know all things. How challenging can it be, though, to understand all that we know.
If granted to know all things, would you ever want to understand all things? And, when granted to fully understand all things, will you truly then, want to know it all?
