I am a Christian, a computer scientist, and a college professor. I have always been a thoughtful person who has been able to see the broader picture of things, and to see connections between things and concepts that cross multiple disciplinary and general spheres of thinking.

When I was a child, my grandmother spoke of an ancient Chinese philosopher who would go fishing with his disciples daily. The curious thing is that is the fishing line terminated not in a hook but a straight needle. One day, a disciple worked up the courage to ask him why his hook was straight. Surely a barbed and curved hook would be more successful in catching fish. The master only replied “If the fish wants to be caught, it will come to my line.” The story ended there.

My grandmother never did tell me the point of the story. Over the years, I have come to understand the story as an object lesson the old philosopher was conveying to his young students. He wanted them to accept his teachings willingly, and of their own consideration of his wisdom. He did not want to impose his thoughts and win the students over either by the hook and guile of rhetoric or the force of his personal authority. 

I started this blog as a means to communicate some of the ideas and thoughts about the world in which we live, and current events on which I have pondered. I hope that my writings will inspire thought and consideration among my readers, and initiate interesting dialog. This blog is my straight hook.

Leave me a note if you find the articles I write interesting.