Friday, May 20, 2016

A Response to Sam Dunn's blog: 

Finding Motivation in Blessed Unrest


As the premise, questions, and struggles with this topic relate to teaching, I am reminded of a statement made by my high school English teacher, Lewis Munk. He was quoting a Literature professor from Ohio State (as I recall) whose name I have long since forgotten. According to the story, this professor could make football linebackers love English literature. Anyway, he said, “I cannot teach anything. "The most I can do is to stand on top of the mountain and invite my students to come up and enjoy the view."

First, one cannot effectively invite without being passionately on fire about the climb. Second, that fire must come from the sheer joy of discovery, ie., learning. Discovery that one can help others to "feel" "something" through his or her writing, painting, composing a sonata, poem, essay, photograph, or whatever, is where the joy comes. Discovery and communication of what we have discovered, I believe are what drives many of us to strive.

My personal belief is that the closer we get to God, the greater the joy of creation. That joy is only complete when we can share that joy and that creation with others. God’s creations are the standard by which all others are judged, either consciously, or unconsciously. I believe that from my experiences in taking photographs. I cannot count the times that I have seen the most beautiful vista-that I desperately wanted to share. I have shot that vista from several different points of view. When I look at the finished photographs, I was severely disappointed at the result. They didn’t convey what I saw/felt at the moment of composition. I simply could not capture the feeling. We cannot create anything without effort--in some cases, supreme effort. Because we are eternal beings having a mortal experience, we are wont to judge our creations by eternal standards. The truth is that as mortals we can really only judge them by our efforts. Did we do our very best? And...and this is a big “and”... our very best is often brought out only through multiple efforts. Starting, destroying that effort, and starting again, sometimes multiple times. The writing revising process is an example of that.

That is an over-long introduction to my attempt to answer your questions. It is not, however, nearly as long as it might have been because I have struggled with this whole notion much of my life.

I believe that the answer to question 1) lies in the efforts of great novelists, painters, essayists, photographers, composers, etc. For the most part they are never satisfied with just one creation. There are very few one-work wonders. Most are driven to try again and thus through the effort do they expand their vision. I have read from several novelists that their stories wrote themselves and that the “vision” came as they wrote. It is as if they had to take a few steps into the darkness before the vision came. And sometimes that takes a considerable amount of faith. And sometimes those few steps become many steps. You see, I am discovering what I mean as I write. My notion, my view, my answer is only partly formed as I begin to write, but it takes shape as I write, and even changes shape. The very act of putting it into words expands, molds and in some cases changes what I thought into something else, as well as, or instead of, solidifying my original thinking.

I think that sometimes the answer to question 2) is to go back and look at what we have created and realize that, gosh, that was really good. If I can do that once, perhaps I can do it again with something else. Now truthfully, this process cannot be pushed nor forced. I have found that to be especially true of the last several months as I have been creating training presentations. Some topics just come together by themselves. Others have been percolating sub-consciously for months and I am no closer to creating them than I have ever been. They just won’t jell. See, here I am struggling to even find adequate words to describe what I mean.

I am jumping off topic, but Ray Bradbury said that he would go to the library and type for eight hours a day five days a week, and through the process of repetition he was finally able to get his brain to learn that it was to be ready to create and it did finally get in the habit of doing so. There is a great book by Julia Cameron entitled The Artist’s Way that deals with how to get the “creative juices” flowing for a creative person. It is well worth looking at for writing, but I am certain that there are similar exercises that can be adapted for other endeavors as well. Honestly, there is much to be said on this topic, but motivation is an elusive goal that has plagued educators for millennia. To my knowledge, it has never been completely solved. What motivates one individual rolls like water off a duck’s back for someone else. There are those who will disagree with me on this, but motivation has to be largely internal, and external forces do little to help. I know that sounds like a cop out, but I can do no better.

I don’t know that I can even begin to address question 3), but J.T. Dillon wrote a book called “Questioning.” In it he said that no one begins to learn anything until they begin to ask questions. No one will ask questions until they begin, at least, to feel frustration. Therefore frustration must precede learning. Also only student questions are of value. The only viable use for teaching questions is to create the frustration necessary for students to begin to ask their own questions. I believe that writing is a great way to ask and then begin to discover the answers to those questions. The writing that results will then be the creation that becomes the masterpiece, or at least the thing that leads to the next question. I guess what I am really trying to say is that the mere realization and memory that frustration is necessary, and that so is the struggle to answer the questions that it creates, can help us to continue on in the face of that all too necessary struggle and difficulty. Finally, if the difficulty is too great, it may be best to write down the frustration, its questions, and move on to another related, or even unrelated question, until the subconscious has the time to give, find, create, craft, or whatever, the beginnings of an answer.

That process may have to be repeated many times before one project is completed. I give as an example a little essay that I wrote about the mortality of time. My first ponderings on that subject began when I was still in the equivalent of junior high or middle school. Questions, insights, answers, more questions, came gradually over the years until some 50 plus years later, I finished the essay. At least I think I have finished. I have added to it several times over the last year. In the meantime, I have written, and created, and completed many other projects that were not as vexing to me as that one was.

I know you are sorry that you brought the subject up. I am afraid that my “comment” is as long or longer than your original post. I apologize, but you really did open the barn doors to a subject that I had not realized had been smoldering under the surface of my own subconscious for who knows how long.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Family Room quote

So I'm looking for a quote to have Aunt Nettie make into vinyl letters to put up above our large family picture in the family room. Do you have any suggestions? Here are some of my first thoughts, but I want all of yours too.

Out of the dreariness,
Into its cheeriness,
Come we in weariness
Home.
--Stephen Chalmers
(I like the sentiment of this, but am not sure I want the words dreariness and weariness on the wall.)

* * * * *

Peace and rest at length have come,
All the day's long toil is past;
And each heart is whispering,
'Home, Home at last!'
--Thomas Hood
(I like the idea of home being peace and rest, but am not sure about having long toil on the wall.)

* * * * *

He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(This is OK. The author's name is almost longer than his quote.)

* * * * *

What gift has Providence bestowed on man that is so dear to him as his children?
--Cicero
(I love this thought because it is absolutely true. It's also shorter and would maybe look better.)

* * * * *

Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark our coming, and look brighter when we come.
--Lord Byron
(Same thought as the last one.)

* * * * *

So . . . please do some research and help me find some more possibilities . . . or is there one of these I've listed that jumps out as PERFECT?

Thanks a million.

Love, Mom

Monday, October 6, 2008

Christmas is Coming the Goose is Getting Fat . . .

Here is the list of names for the gift exchange we drew last night.

David has Heather
Jill has Lee
Melanie has Maurianne
Lee has David
Maurianne has Sam
Heather has Jill
Graham has Melanie
Sam has Graham
What is the price range this year? I'm not sure I remember what it has been in the past.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Quick Thought

I was listening to this talk today (Have We Not Reason to Rejoice? - Elder Uchtdorf) and really enjoyed the conclusion and thought I would share it:

"My dear brothers and sisters, there will be days and nights when you feel overwhelmed, when your hearts are heavy and your heads hang down. Then, please remember, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, is the Head of this Church. It is His gospel. He wants you to succeed. He gave His life for just this purpose. He is the Son of the living God. He has promised:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (
Matthew 11:28).
“For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee” (
3 Nephi 22:10). “I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” (3 Nephi 22:8).
My dear friends, the Savior heals the broken heart and binds up your wounds (see
Psalm 147:3). Whatever your challenges may be, wherever you live on this earth, your faithful membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the divine powers of the gospel of Jesus Christ will bless you to endure joyfully to the end.
Of this I bear witness with all my heart and mind in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."


It was a good reminder for me and it is a great talk. I love you all!!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

FHE @ Copperton Park

I thought this picture was the best, at least of the ones I had. Maybe Melanie and Jill got better ones but I like this because of the personalities that are shown. (Will and Joel would rather be playing; Seth, Josie, and Nate are just happy to be there and Dan and Rosie don't really know what is going on.) Nate has the 'Jones eyebrows,' awesome. Just thought I would share. I miss the Dunn Family already!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Need Feedback . . .


So last night we (Mom, Dad, Maurianne, Graham and I) were talking about starting a new tradition. That with the exciting guests coming next week we could have our first Vernon Dunn Family reunion. (Or as Dad suggested we could call it the Seth H. Dunn reunion as the same people would be attending but we may sound more prestigious with that extra generation included.) Anyway we were thinking for our first one we could perhaps do a day trip, maybe to see the Spiral Jetty or something else cool/fun. We got to talking about it because Graham's family does reunions and they do them every other year (his Dad's family does it one year and the next is his mom's family or they try to do it that way.) I realize that things come up and it won't always be on a perfect schedule and depending where we all end up is a factor as well. Just a thought since we will all be together this summer and could do the first one. Maybe our next one could be to visit David and Jill in Auburn or where ever they may be in 2 years! Let me know your thoughts and ideas or other suggestions. I am so excited for the Dunn Family to get here next week!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

So did everyone hear the great news? (. . . drum roll. . . ) The Dunn family from Auburn, Alabama will be wending their way out here to Utah the second week of June!!!!! (. . . thunderous applause, whistling, and general outbreaks of joy . . .) What are some fun things that we can do while they are here visiting? Please submit your nominations and suggestions now.

Thanks, Mom