Lost in Thought
Lost in Thought, by Zena Hitz, spoke to my heart and mind. As I regularly proclaim, Christians are people of “the Book,” so we are called to merge our intellectual and faith life. Hitz’s book is not faith-based whatsoever, but her quest to describe “The hidden pleasures of an intellectual life,” meaningfully describes the blending of my faith, while embracing my intellect. In our present society, where many question the legitimacy of a Liberal Arts education, Hitz challenges the reader to embrace “the need to study and learn, in depth, for its own sake.”
Hitz has a master’s degree and a PhD in philosophy from Cambridge University and Princeton University, so she lives what she proclaims. Lost in Thought reframes life when she states, “Intellectual work is a form of loving service at least as important as cooking, cleaning, or raising children; as essential as the provision of shelter, safety, or health care; as valuable as the delivery of necessary goods and services; as crucial as the administration of justice.” Knowing how to utilize one’s intellect is transferable to every area of life. Currently, young adults, faced with the high costs of education, believe that post-high school education should focus on training them for a specific career. Yet, as careers quickly transform due to increasingly immersive technology, I would argue that learning how to access your intellect through a broad base of knowledge will give one the flexibility to remain relevant amid rapid change.
Yet, my primary concern is the role of intellect informing faith. Rather than falling victim to the false Biblical interpretation of fundamentalism, one should learn the intellectual skills to use literary, historical, and other forms of critical evaluation to experience the scripture writer’s intended meaning properly. Further, God blesses us with a brain capable of vast intellectual ability; it is incumbent upon each of us to utilize what God intends for us. Allow Zena Hitz to stretch your intellectual motivation so that life becomes even more meaningful, and your intellect enhances your life.