Proverbs 27:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Iron
sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
In high school I earned a distinction in mathematics when
compared with the other math students in the Transvaal Province ofl South
Africa. In college I earend a bachelors
degree in mathematics. Then I went on to the University of Iowa for graduate
studies in mathematics.
Dr Tom Price walked into my first topology class. There were
about twenty of us students in the class. He handed out those old purple mimeographed sheets of
paper. The first page had a list of definitions of terms we would use in the
class. Open set, closed set, continuous function. Then a list of the statements
of theorems followed.
“When you come to class next time, write down the number of
each theorem you can prove. I will get you to write down the proof of a theorem
for a theorem you have proved on the black board. We as a class will comment on
your proof. See you Wednesday!” and Dr
Price walked out the door.
No sweat, I had been proving theorems ever since high school
geometry and trigonometry. I came to class the next time having proved several
of his theorems. He had me stand up in front of the class—I really hated that
at the best of times—and prove a theorem. I started proving that theorem and my
fellow students pounced on me like a bunch of piranha fish. They viscously tore
apart everything I wrote . I sat back down in my seat and tried to hide my embarrassment
and shame. I noticed that they did that to every student who presented a proof.
As the semester wore slowly by, I learned to present a proof
that no one would pounce on. I developed a confidence out of that experience
that I could prove anything you handed me and no one could find anything to
criticize in my logic or presentation. The other students became my friends. I
went on to do my mathematical research in algebraic topology, a branch of mathematics
that many mathematicians regard as the hardest math field. Why? Because that
class had taught me that there was no proof too hard for me in topology.
Thank You Lord
for “friends” who sharpen my countenance.
No comments:
Post a Comment