It is important for us, the mother-teachers, to develop our philosophy in such a way that we act from what we believe and not simply react in the moment. A philosopher is a “lover of wisdom”. Philosophy is the study of truth, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge. It is the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. “The teacher,” Stratford Caldecott says in Beauty in the Word, “must be the one who submits first. He must submit to God, and to the objective truth he hopes to teach.” To put it another way, as mothers, we must lead our children by our example. They imitate us and mirror our virtues and also our vices. It’s our calling and privilege.
What we believe as our philosophy should come out in what we do. These are the principles that guide our actions. What we do is a result of what we believe about ourselves, others and the world. Ideas have consequences. The intentional pursuit of wisdom is found throughout human history and begins in our own hearts as is eloquently demonstrated in this passage: “The men of old wanting to clarify and diffuse throughout the empire that light which comes from looking straight into the heart and then acting, first set up good government in the their own states; wanting good government in their states, they first established order in their own families; wanting order in the home, they first disciplined themselves, desiring self-discipline, they rectified their own hearts; and wanting to rectify their hearts they sought precise verbal definitions of their inarticulate thoughts in the tones given off by the heart; wishing to attain precise verbal definitions, they set to extend their knowledge to the utmost.” Confucius, Great Digest (Ezra Pound translation) a la The Way of Ignorance, Wendell Berry).
Now, I must point out that this wisdom we seek, will not be found inside ourselves. It is a fallacy of our age, where we parrot “follow your heart” or “be the best you” or “you do you and I’ll do me.” These statements are destined to fail because the root is self. Self indulgence, self-gratification and self-discovery lead to death. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9&10) But if not inside, where shall we discover this wisdom? C.S. Lewis observes, “In a savage community you absorb your culture, in part unconsciously, from participation in the immemorial pattern of behavior, and in part by word of mouth, from the old men of the tribe. In our own society most knowledge depends on observation… But the Middle Ages depended predominately on books… reading was in one way a more important ingredient of the total culture.” (Discarded Image, C.S. Lewis). Lewis shares here, what we have suspected, we must be oriented outward and not inward. Now we come to see that our philosophy (the pursuit of wisdom) will be shaped by our theology (the study of God).
I have been struck, as I work through the 20 principles of education that Ms. Mason puts forward, at how challenged I am by these principles as I examine my actions and home atmosphere, disciplines and ways of life at home. I’ve been looking to see where my attitude, reactions and ways of speaking to my children contradict these principles. What areas do I cling to self and seek, comfort and convenience instead of the good of others and glory for the Lord. The heart is certainly deceitful and this is where prayer and reading God’s word can be both instructive and restorative. And so, as I work through these principles, I hope to share both the challenges I find in keeping them and the ways that they have helped guide me when I’m unsure what to do. And of course, we keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is our great educator and instructs and guides us as we trust in the God who made us and are sustained by Christ who allows us to walk in freedom with His death. As Stratford Caldacott eloquently states, “Only those who love can educate because only those who love can speak the truth which is love. God is the true teacher because ‘God is love.’” This is the question that I have as I look at the 20 principles, “Do I live this way? Do I love thoughtfully and understand my duty to my children?” I suspect I have much to learn and opportunities for growth!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24)
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