Paradoxical Thinking

"Paradoxical thinking requires that we embrace a view of the world in which opposites are joined, so that we can see the world clearly and see it whole. Such a view is characterized by neither flinty-eyed realisim nor dewy-eyed romanticism but rather by a creative synthesis of the two (Palmer, 2007, p.69)."

I never thought I'd become one of those people who say over and over again, "when I was younger.." Well, here I am at middle age! I entered Religious life right after college - filled with idealism. Those early years of formation I was only in my early 20's. I was well educated but a great deal of life experience I lacked. I was often resistant to what I perceived as my community's lack of zeal, of prophetic voice and action on so many things. To say the least, I was very much a this or that kind of thinker.

Not to say that I was wrong about my community's lack of bold actions, but my views were not any more correct or proper. I was seeing the world in parts, not completely understanding the complexities of the interconnectedness of peoples and institutions. I lacked experience and emotional intelligence. Much of what Palmer suggests comes with age and experience, and of course, the openness of which Palmer writes and seemingly lives his own life. In looking back at those early days of my Religious life, or simply of my earlier life, those who wished simply to tell me I was wrong, or limited, or misguided - well, they were dismissed by me (even though they were right.

But those who found a way to do what Palmer suggests in his secion "Paradox and Pedagogical Design," they kept my attention and I look back at them now as the great heroes of my life. They realized my youth and inexperience, they say potential and they found a way to help me to see the world as less a bunch of parts and more the whole that it is.

I can't help but see Palmer's design as, well, rather Catholic. It reminds me of the Church.

1. The Space should be bounded and open. The designers of any of the great cathedrals of Europe sought to capture the boundedness of this earthly life by the walls of the church, while reminding of the openness of the transcendent by the towering hight of the vault.

2. The space would be hospitable and "charged." Sound like great liturgy to me!

3. The space should invite the voice of the individual and the voice of the group. We stand as individuals before God, and as members of the Body of Christ.
4. The space should honor the little stories of the students and the big stories of the disciplines and traditions. Look at the stained glass windows, pick up the Lives of the Saints.
5. The space should support solitude and surround it with the resources of the community. Get to Mass early, stay afterwards but watch what happens when we worship well together.
6. The space should welcome both silence and speech. Again, the rhythms of liturgy.

Palmer's on to something spectacular and much of it should be easily incorporated for those who call themselves Catholic educators. We do it naturally (I hope!)