The Old Fool wrote this on Wednesday. His day began with a bird walk with a self-selected group. That is, the bird-walkers walk and watch because each of them wants to.
The Old Fool learned much about birds and other living things, but he also learned that on this particular morning every member on our walk was also a member of the College Mennonite Church. The Old Fool has been pondering the unique mission of CMC. Every church has a unique mission and should be aware what it is.
Early this year The Old Fool joined the CMC Men’s Fellowship. The fellowship asked the senior pastor to tell them his concerns. The pastor came with a question. He asked just how large a tent the church should have.
The Old Fool considers this to be a legitimate pastoral concern because the CMC shares its campus with Goshen College. In the OF’s opinion, Goshen College influences CMC and CMC likely influences the college.
Borderlands is the study group mentioned in the last post. It is grateful to be under CMC’s broad tent. The group recently discussed the good influence of the college on the Goshen community and wished that its influence could reach a larger community. The Borderlands considered the potential use of online education.
The Old Fool does not vouch for the TED information on YouTube, but he admits he was given hope by a lecture by Daphne Koller on What we are Learning from Online Education. She concludes with the notion that a free education could soon be offered to anyone in the world who wants it. .
In this lecture The Old Fool, preacher and visionary that he is, finds new hope. Perhaps the value, virtue, and potential practice of universal of good will can be taught free to all.
Is it possible that the leap from bird watching to hope for the world can be made only in the mind of an old fool. Is that why he is The Old Fool?