The first time I did any hefty study I was at Theological College. I had never written more than 500 words before and all of sudden I was confronted with the task of writing 3000 words together with a thing called a ‘bibliography.’ I was daunted and I struggled.
About 10 days out from the due date I would present a piece of work to the lecturer. He would calmly sit me down and go through a little ritual.
“Well, Oulton. This bit here is rubbish and so is this bit. This bit is OK but it belongs toward the beginning of the essay and by the way … you have mentioned anything about A, B, C and Q.1. Now you hand me another piece of work before the due date and I will take the best of the two.” So I would go away and do just that. You would have thought that I would get great marks with a second chance, but it was not so. Each assignment was barely a pass, but we got there.
Literally, 20 years later I did some online study and this time I got much better marks. Not dazzling mind you, just noticeably better.
Why? The second time around I was more mature and much less distracted. I also understood the ‘essay process’ better and spent more time thinking about what the question was really asking.
But most importantly, I actually wanted to do this study. It wasn’t just a requirement of a theological college, a process to be completed.
My deepest admiration to those patient priests who quietly persevered with my ‘academia’ or lack of it. My friend Leonardo Da Vinci was right.
Study without desire spoils the memory and it retains nothing that it takes in