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Education and the Importance of Monty Python Spending time with old friends, bowling, staying out late, Prodigy techno, jumping from the bridge (or chickening out), pond throwing, and plunging into the mysterious world of 8-player 5-card tradition non-conventional Mao, are all memories of my week at Pinebrook Bible Conference. My parents are usually here speaking or giving a presentation or something, but since they retured, this year I am alone and some of the spotlight and pressure have been taken away. It is just as it should be, just a bunch of old friends having a great time. One night we got back from a terrible game of bowling and sat around the pool talking. Time whittled down the size of our group as more people left to go to their rooms. Finally, there were only five of us left. Andy, a senior at Williams, his brother Eric, soon to be a freshman at the University of Chicago, John, a Southern Baptist disillusioned with college, Josh, an uncertain high school senior from Amish country, and me. We talked for three hours that night; first it was Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I hardly knew who Monty Python was, but Andy quickly informed me that their wisdom I thought Monty was just one man) and insight were essential to surviving the college experience. Then we discussed the impossibilities and ramifications of Eric's pet conspiracy theory. I still don't believe the "landing" at Roswell was covered up by a secret international government, but I promised Eric that if he mysteriously disappeared I would leak his theory to the press. Our chat continued as we talked about everything from Andy's physiology class, to the controversy over predestination and free will, to the pros and cons of boarding school. From there we argued over the ethics of cloning and genetic alteration from a Christian perspective. Though I was opposed from all sides, I countered that it was dangerous and our society could be the next Tower of Babble. But in the midst of the fray I came to a realization that made this moment the highlight of my summer. I realized that I want to know. Everything. In one "magical moment" I had finally figured out what school, what education, is all about. Now I know. I want to be able to prove to myself, to communicate my ideas, to know me. I want to talk, and to have people listen. I want to teach, and have people understand. I want to be, and let them be in awe. But most of all, I want to fight and WIN. So even though right now I can't disprove the landing of Roswell, they better watch out--because next year I'll be back...and I'll have all the wisdom of Monty Python under my belt. --Kenny Harley |
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