Transcending Realms
The final curtain of another day is slowing drawing across the stage of my day. My work at the university is many things but redundant. There is such life here, among my students, my colleagues, and the community that enters this world we call acadamia. The campus upon which I dwell serves approximately 20,000 students, thus when the changing of the guard occurs after every class, the landscape takes on the persona of a micro-metropolis. Perceptions, focus, and goals are so much different from the cozy little town of my home residence.
I live in two realms.
Stagnation occurs when I spend too much time in either one to the exclusion of the other. As I muse the mechanics of both worlds, I find it fascinating how I am perceived when I do spend an abundance of time and/or attention to one realm over the other.
While dwelling in the mindset that encapsulates the realm of acadamia or education, my language of course and cognitive functioning, fed by this realm begin to resemble those around me. However, when I return to our quaint small town, the goals of the people are not the same and I appear to be speaking a foriegn language at times. I become frustrated as my friends and neighbors who have not dwelt in my alter-realm do not understand the passion and fire I have on certain matters. To them it is simply something that will never change or can never change and I shouldn't be concerned. There are other matters at hand, things integral to the community in which they dwell that must take precidence.
On the flip side, when I am home a great deal of the time, I tend to rally behind the communal efforts of the neighborhood and allow my other passions to be shelved until a more convenient time. Therefore, my actions are propigated by the realm which holds my attention and time.
So also is true of another two realms in which I reside. The spiritual realm and the earthly realm. The tenets spoken of formerly concerning acadamia and community hold true for these realms also. The more time spent in the spiritual realm, the more those I love who have not tasted of this place, do not understand of that which I speak. It's not because we are so different, it's just that I have experienced a place they have not. Subsequently, when a majority of my time and energy is spent in the earthly realm, I tend to lose sight of the issues and passions of the spiritual realm.
As is with the realms I transverse daily, acadamia and home, I must realize that they are two distinct realms with distinct rules and norms. Therefore I must not judge either but strive to understand and respect the inhabitants of both for the invaluable worth they carry. This heuristic or rule of thumb also applies to the spiritual and earthly realms. It is with the passports of compassion, and a willingness to view my surroundings through the eyes of those who dwell in those surroundings that I can transcend the borders of the many realms set before my path.
Ever and Always
Beth
I live in two realms.
Stagnation occurs when I spend too much time in either one to the exclusion of the other. As I muse the mechanics of both worlds, I find it fascinating how I am perceived when I do spend an abundance of time and/or attention to one realm over the other.
While dwelling in the mindset that encapsulates the realm of acadamia or education, my language of course and cognitive functioning, fed by this realm begin to resemble those around me. However, when I return to our quaint small town, the goals of the people are not the same and I appear to be speaking a foriegn language at times. I become frustrated as my friends and neighbors who have not dwelt in my alter-realm do not understand the passion and fire I have on certain matters. To them it is simply something that will never change or can never change and I shouldn't be concerned. There are other matters at hand, things integral to the community in which they dwell that must take precidence.
On the flip side, when I am home a great deal of the time, I tend to rally behind the communal efforts of the neighborhood and allow my other passions to be shelved until a more convenient time. Therefore, my actions are propigated by the realm which holds my attention and time.
So also is true of another two realms in which I reside. The spiritual realm and the earthly realm. The tenets spoken of formerly concerning acadamia and community hold true for these realms also. The more time spent in the spiritual realm, the more those I love who have not tasted of this place, do not understand of that which I speak. It's not because we are so different, it's just that I have experienced a place they have not. Subsequently, when a majority of my time and energy is spent in the earthly realm, I tend to lose sight of the issues and passions of the spiritual realm.
As is with the realms I transverse daily, acadamia and home, I must realize that they are two distinct realms with distinct rules and norms. Therefore I must not judge either but strive to understand and respect the inhabitants of both for the invaluable worth they carry. This heuristic or rule of thumb also applies to the spiritual and earthly realms. It is with the passports of compassion, and a willingness to view my surroundings through the eyes of those who dwell in those surroundings that I can transcend the borders of the many realms set before my path.
Ever and Always
Beth
posted by beth at 3:35 PM
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