"To enter the kingdom of heaven, you must become as a child."
The kingdom of heaven is a playground. You must be 'as' a child to
enter into it. It does not say you must 'be' a child. It is not a
return to a lost innocence. "Even the gods love to play" as even the
great philosopher Plato has written. We must grow up beyond adulthood
to play the games the gods play. The use of the child simile
is meant only to remind us of the innate wisdom we have always had, but
have forgotten how to use. But how do we capture the wisdom of the
child and harness the knowledge of the 'grown up'?
It is up
to the student to ask the questions. The person who 'plays' the role of
a teacher cannot answer all questions. You have all the resources
within yourself. A teacher cannot give you something you don't already
have. All he can do is try to help you remember something you already
know.
A teacher 'plays' his role best when he 'plays' on the
meaning of words. The Greek god Hermes is the god of writing. The
purpose of writing is to communicate thought. A 'good' teacher is one
who can skillfully communicate his thoughts into words. But Hermes was
also a trickster, a joker, and a game master. And he guards the kingdom
of the heavens with many subtle tests. You must be able to laugh, joke
and play to participate in the games of the gods.
-- Stephen Anthony Orzel
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