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In order to
accomplish this Colossal Quest, it’s going to require a certain type of
person. I don’t mean an
introvert/extrovert or even the most talented/qualified to carry it out. But instead a certain caliber of person with
all their unique gifts and contributions for their specific missions. A highly educated person but not in the
traditional sense. One that is educated
in character.
When
thinking about the purposes of education, it’s generally associated with
getting a good job, or having the skills to be competitive in society, or just
simply acquiring things like money, a social reputation or cultural
literacy. Basically, the purpose is to
DO or to HAVE. But like most things that
society has to offer, there is a higher, a more noble purpose behind the
mechanics . . . and that is to BE.
BEING a
great person, is truly undervalued in a world where GETTING is the popular
trend. BEING of high quality is hardly
even mentioned in the arguments for education.
Sure, there is the twist on the word such as being informed and literate
or being confident and competitive, even being a contributing member of society. But those are just another way of saying the
same objective of GETTING.
BEING or
BECOMING is in a class of its own. It’s
happening all the time, whether it is identified as an objective or not. DOING or GETTING require specific actions to
get a result but BECOMING is an either/or based on what choices are made. It’s attached to the DOING or GETTING but
shapes the character rather than the brain or pocketbook. For instance –
Studying math
*Provides career
opportunities (& salary advantages) to solve society’s Ills
*Increases the likelihood of
improving the current trends of technology growth
*Gives the student the skills needed
to understand the principles of mathematics
*Gives
the student competence to interact in a world where those principles are
utilized
*Causes
the brain to create new connections and pathways for increased functionality
and reasoning power
*It may create a hate of math because of the challenges
associated with learning it.
Those
are the DOING and GETTING. But it also
is teaching the BECOMING skills such as:
*Developing
the fortitude and confidence to do hard things
*Developing
the discipline of daily practice and persistence (a good work ethic)
*Developing
a greater appreciation for the mathematical principles behind all of creation
and nature
*Developing
a social competence and intelligence that is attractive to others
*Developing
courage to face complicated problems or intimidating circumstances
*If
resisting the learning challenges, it is developing ignorance, inconsistency, emotional instability, distractableness, discouragement,
cantankerous, lazy, even a quitter.
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So how does one BECOME?
Well, God has already put together a
pretty amazing system based on choice and experiences. Truth is available for all and whether one applies
said truth, BECOMES said results. If the
opposite of truth is applied, one BECOMES a different result. A simple cause and effect system. Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21 describe it
best:
“There
is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world,
upon which all blessings (in this case
BECOMINGS) are predicated –
“And
when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which
it is
predicated.”
We simply identify what it is we want
to BECOME and then make those choices that will give us those results. Simple?
Not really. It’s quite a complex
scenario but well worth the investment of focus and intent.
Whereas DOING can receive a checkmark
and GETTING can be tangibly identified, BECOMING is challenging to
measure. Usually it is incredibly
gradual and continually progressive in nature.
Over time or hindsight is its best indicators that progress is being
made.
If BECOMING is our educational objective
and we are in the process of BECOMING (because the journey never ends), we can DO
what is required to accomplish the Colossal Quest and HAVE an impactful life.
