In a few months, I will sit for an eight hour test and, if successful, I will receive the credential of "Professional Engineer" or "PE" for short. Between now and then of course I must study; rigorously study. Many of the things I like to do I will have to cut back in order to fulfill my need to study.
I graduated from college 15 years ago, age 35. I remember working hard all through junior college – doing quite well in fact, far better than I had ever achieved academically during high school....even getting on the Dean's list. I just remember feeling really old… having decided to go back at age 30 you know. But then I got to the University of Texas - the school of Engineering- and there I remember feeling like I had hit a brick wall.
This hard reality, I wasn't as smart as I might have appeared to be or thought myself to be, began to sink in. Here I was - this average guy - swimming with thousands of young geniuses.
What had I gotten myself into?
While others went to football games and parties I studied, and studied some more and still studied and ultimately, did much worse on my exams than those whom went to the football games and parties. Certainly my spiritual reversion had taken root here as many prayers were said over the ensuing months and years.
By the grace of God I graduated a civil engineer. By the grace of God I'd been given the gift of understanding. In the whole scheme of things I am but a fool; in the whole scheme of things I really knew and know nothing at all.
Precisely this understanding, for the first time in my life, (finally), has led to real knowledge.
The whole truth lies outside of myself and my limited perceptions; the truth unaffected of course by them - truth always being truth.
What are the reasons for my joy?
Understanding leading to knowledge leading to a will aligned to the will of my Father in heaven, to OUR Father in heaven.
Without faith there is no understanding. With faith an entire oasis of knowledge opens up before us.
An unlimited source of knowledge is found outside of oneself in the Gospels, Church traditions and documents (Magisterium), nature, art, music, prayer & spiritual books, in the liberal arts like philosophy and theology, through journalists, scriptural scholars & exegetes, converts, TV personalities, radio personalities, doctors, religious authors, Church Fathers, Popes, priests, nuns, deacons, the Saints, etc.… a body of knowledge, today more than ever before, so readily accessible to everyone.
The sheer breadth of material to study for the PE exam is indeed quite intimidating, certainly another humbling, brick wall manifestation in my own life. Yet, by making my way through it I've come to understand and appreciate the relative "smallness" of our own Catholic Catechism. I never thought I'd feel that way about the Catechism with its nearly 3000 paragraphs of sacred wisdom.
I CAN get my hands and brain around the Catechism, at minimum becoming proficient in using the citation and subject indexes in the back just as I CAN pass this PE examination - I pray, on the first attempt; God willing and for the glory and honor of God of course.
If I don't post for a while you at least you'll understand why now. Until next time...may I ask for your prayers?
