“Defining Life: A Conversation” by Levin and Kofman

My favorite prof at the University of Nebraska was an English professor, Robert Knoll. Every single class he taught was a revelation. He was one of the most cherished professors on campus. His classes were always full and I would always leave his provocative lectures feeling my mind had been expanded.

One day Dr. Knoll said, “Kids in their teens and 20s are drawn to subjects like chemistry, math, physics and engineering because they have a need for exact answers. But as you mature, you become more comfortable with grey areas and ambiguity. The older you get, the less need you have for exact answers.

“When you get into your 40’s and 50’s you’re much more comfortable with politics and imperfect human beings. So… if you want to spend the rest of your life looking for exact answers, you can go to Indian Hills Community Church.”

Hey wait a minute! that was the church I grew up in!

I felt like Professor Knoll had smacked me in the face with a 2×4. I meandered to my classes for the rest of the day in a daze.

Suddenly, several hours later I realized:

“Hey, wait a minute… I don’t even go to that church anymore! I left.”

“Why did I leave?”

“I left because the exact answers were so excruciatingly exact I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

I suddenly realized:

“Hey wait a minute… that means even though I’m only 20, I AM growing up. Just like he said.”

I no longer felt like I’d been whacked in the head with a 2×4. Dr. Knoll had certified my rite of passage.