Today was graduation at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary where I teach. I was asked to lead the opening devotions, and so I read the following, drawn from 1Corinthians 13:1-13
If I get a diploma or
a degree from SMMS and have not love, I am nothing more than an empty braggart;
if I get academic colours and an academic gown and have no love, I gain nothing
more than some fancy dress; if I gain all the knowledge in the world – and know
how to reference footnotes and bibliographies, and am able to publish clever
articles in Journals and Books – and I have no love, I am nothing more than a
noisy wordsmith stirring up clever words.
Love is patient and kind
towards those who do not know as much as I do; Love drives us to share what we know
so that others are empowered with the knowledge; Love desires education for
all, a sharing of our knowledge with the weak and marginalised, and the
education of women, children and the lowest workers in society.
For a time will come
when old age causes all our learning to escape us; and when new knowledge
replaces all we have learned; and when younger, brighter minds surge ahead of
us;
The fact is that we
do not know all there is to know, and we shall never cease learning new things
and discover the unimaginable.
While academic knowledge
has great value, and life skills are vitally important: when everything that
makes sense in our lives is over – one thing of value shall remain:
And that one singular
attribute is to Love and be Loved.
No comments:
Post a Comment