Unfortunately, we can only do justice through writing to
what we know and have experienced. When we step outside of that sphere of
knowledge, we often leave a trail of butchered truths and realities that are
easily seen by our audiences. Even if we think we’ve studied hard enough on a
subject, it won’t translate to the reader as smoothly as the words of someone
who really knows.
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| Dog Flea |
Enter John Donne, a poet and preacher so witty and understanding that many of
his metaphors still register today. He saw the world around him and how it
moved and shifted his emotions and being. He saw those effects resonate in the
lives of those around him. And what he saw, he internalized. John Donne didn’t
know everything, but what he did know, he endeavored to know well.
Modern humanities students are encouraged to do the same. It
isn’t enough to be told about the world, we have to experience it as well. That
doesn’t mean we need to spend our early years throwing away opportunities
before having a change of heart and devoting ourselves to the clergy (even
though some of us do). But, it means that when we do experience, we need to be
aware and invested. If we can observe, record, and explain what we see, we’ll
be able to affect the changes we feel our world needs.
Or, at the very least, be able to relate a
flea to adultery.
