IN MY SPIRIT ALIVE

by

TOM DALY SJ

These verses were composed as a set of revision notes towards the end of a course of 32 weekly half-hour classes in Bernard Lonergan's philosophy which I gave to grade 6 children in 1987. They were published as part of the article "Learning from Lonergan at Eleven", in Method, 9:1 (March 1991) p.44-62.)

I'm a wonderful wonderer, wondering about

All I see and I hear and I feel.

 

My wondering brings me some moments of light,

When an insight dawns fresh in my mind.

 

With an insight I'm ready to talk and explain

And apply and explore out beyond.

 

But some judging is needed before I assent,

When the relevant questions are closed.

 

 

(Until I've done that, "I think" or "Maybe"

Is all I'm entitled to claim.)

 

When I've covered those questions I rightly say "Yes",

And its then that I finally know.

 

I'm in touch with reality, being, fact, truth,

Through my earliest "Is it?" and "What?"

 

It is thus that I spell out the wonderful world,

Having skirted illusions and shams.

 

 

My body's spread out, but my spirit unites,

It ties things together, it plans.

 

I decide at an instant with spiritual power,

But fill in my designs over days.

 

I reach out to the edges of space and of time,

Though my knowledge of them's all in me.

 

Still it's rich and its fun, and exciting, and strong,

All the more that its "now" needs no "then".

 

 

When I know myself thus, I can guess what I'd be

If I'd mastered all puzzles in full.

 

I'd be just one exciting enchanting insight,

Quite the opposite feeling to bored.

 

I'd be truth and assent, fulfillment and desire,

Understanding and meaning as well.

 

I'd have no need of space, or of time, or of friends,

But could make all of these if I chose.

 

 

All the future and past would be present to me,

So I'd not be restrained to one view.

 

I could write an insight in the whole universe,

That could not fit within any part.

 

Or I'd fix up a set of particular laws

To relate a few bits 'mong themselves.

 

I'd put sense in the whole of good actions of men

While allowing each freedom to sulk.

 

 

But in fact there are puzzles I just haven't solved,

So I've no claim at all to be God.

 

And while God understands both himself and the world,

I've no grasp of his insights or plans.

 

So to puzzles of faith, and of sin, and of hope,

I'm most happy to answer, "God knows",

 

Being grateful he gave me my own little mind.

Soon in heaven I'll blow it with him.

Back to the Sydney Lonergan Centre Home Page