One of the classes I'm taking this semester is called Methods of Teaching Math in the Elementary School. You'd think I would be just learning about how to teach kids math, but so far it's been oddly and surprisingly deep. We've been learning concepts like "number sense," for example, which is the foundational understanding of what a number actually is and how numbers interact and are related to each other.
I know right? So weirdly deep. And interesting too.
But my professor, who is a brilliant and kind mathematician, said something so profound today it almost makes me laugh.
He was explaining the concept of addition. You know, 1 +1 = 2. And then he asked us about subtraction and asked how we would define that. To my surprise, he said that subtraction is still addition, but just of negative numbers.
There was a communal "mmmmm" in class when he said that. If you know me, that "phrase" frequents my vocabulary often.
And obviously this phrase got me thinking. Subtraction is merely the addition of negative numbers. Now look at life. With the right perspective, we can see the negative things in life add to our lives. They don't take away from it.
It's so easy to categorize life into "the good things that happen to me" and "the bad things that happen to me." But I don't think that's the best way to live.
Imagine if every time something "negative" happened, we saw it as a positive, good thing? I think it's in our human nature to be intensely against the hard aspects of life, but when you look back at things that have happened to you, those moments of tragedy, loss, sadness, etc., they really were the moments of greatest growth. At least that's what I can say for myself.
I was reading in 1 Peter this morning where it talks about our faith being worth more than gold -- because gold perishes & is destroyed in the fire -- but our faith proves strong and genuine because it doesn't "perish, spoil, or fade" when put through the fire.
This passage is basically proof that the fires of our life are purposeful and change us for the better. And I love that. Even though the fire burns and stings and can temporarily consume us -- it doesn't destroy us completely.
I don't want this post to seem depressing -- because I'm definitely annoying myself with the depth of all of this haha -- but it's simple really. We must see all things, the good and the bad, as important and unique additions to our life, not things that take away from our existence.
Think about it.
(if this post made you sad listen to this song, it should cheer you up)
I know right? So weirdly deep. And interesting too.
But my professor, who is a brilliant and kind mathematician, said something so profound today it almost makes me laugh.
He was explaining the concept of addition. You know, 1 +1 = 2. And then he asked us about subtraction and asked how we would define that. To my surprise, he said that subtraction is still addition, but just of negative numbers.
There was a communal "mmmmm" in class when he said that. If you know me, that "phrase" frequents my vocabulary often.
And obviously this phrase got me thinking. Subtraction is merely the addition of negative numbers. Now look at life. With the right perspective, we can see the negative things in life add to our lives. They don't take away from it.
It's so easy to categorize life into "the good things that happen to me" and "the bad things that happen to me." But I don't think that's the best way to live.
Imagine if every time something "negative" happened, we saw it as a positive, good thing? I think it's in our human nature to be intensely against the hard aspects of life, but when you look back at things that have happened to you, those moments of tragedy, loss, sadness, etc., they really were the moments of greatest growth. At least that's what I can say for myself.
I was reading in 1 Peter this morning where it talks about our faith being worth more than gold -- because gold perishes & is destroyed in the fire -- but our faith proves strong and genuine because it doesn't "perish, spoil, or fade" when put through the fire.
This passage is basically proof that the fires of our life are purposeful and change us for the better. And I love that. Even though the fire burns and stings and can temporarily consume us -- it doesn't destroy us completely.
I don't want this post to seem depressing -- because I'm definitely annoying myself with the depth of all of this haha -- but it's simple really. We must see all things, the good and the bad, as important and unique additions to our life, not things that take away from our existence.
Think about it.
(if this post made you sad listen to this song, it should cheer you up)