Acquisition of knowledge can happen quickly and sometimes almost effortlessly.  But understanding often comes much later.  And with understanding comes a very particular sort of joy.

We often use the phrase “it dawned on me” to indicate that we have gained a new level of understanding about something.  That is indeed an apt metaphor.  Dawn comes to us as an expected thing each day.  It is never quite a surprise, but that doesn’t diminish the brilliance of the sun as it climbs over the horizon.  In the same way, we know that understanding is the predictable result of continued study and thought, yet it often bursts upon us as a thing of wonder.

It doesn’t matter what we are considering when we think of a growth in our understanding.  We might be engaged in the study of a new language, or in studying physics.  Perhaps we are rereading a book for the nth time.  Or better yet, maybe some conversation with one we’ve loved for many years allows us to comprehend something about him or her that we’d never quite seen before.  Language, physics, books, or people... whatever it is that captivates our attention, there is always space for a new dawn of understanding.

© 2008 Shelly Bryant