Making Honey

Making Honey - page 2

Written by Paul Donovan

This article is, of course, not really about my Philosophy class; it’s about Loyola, about life and what we hope for our students and sons who attend this school.  I guess what I really like about the class, is that it brings to the forefront that which is in the background of all our classes and activities. It’s not enough to know how to solve economic problems or program a robot - we need to know why.  What values, ideals and goals are behind the practical things we do?  How does what we do impact the world and the people around us?  These questions require “reflection” which is a key component to Jesuit education.  Our answers rely on a view of the world, of God and of the human person and require an active response.  Acquiring the skills necessary to be successful in the world is one thing; discerning how we are called to use those skills in order to change the world is another.

Measuring success - the success of our school, our teams and individual students - depends entirely on how one defines success.  Of course we could look at grades, competencies and championships but that is just an easy way out and it ultimately uses a measure that comes from the world. When we stop and reflect on the bigger picture, on the reasons for our existence and see success not as accomplishing specific things, but on remaining faithful and discovering our calling, it becomes much more difficult, but much more real. As we consider the business of our lives and the hectic pace in which we pursue our goals and dreams, let’s remember with Mary O’Connor that “It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted.”  May we, our sons and students learn well to make honey.