Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Speechless

Would I have had the good sense to abandon seminary once and for all if I had known . . .

that in the middle of the first term of Hebrew, the verb used (because it behaves itself in a regular fashion) to explain the baffling concept of voice in Hebrew would be: katal ~ to kill

??????????

To kill.
To be killed.
To kill oneself.
To cause someone to kill.
To be caused to kill.
To cause someone to kill himself.

(A portion of the chart on page 71 of our workbook.)

Oh. My. God.

(And yes. I made it to the end of the class before bursting into tears. Just barely.)

15 comments:

Shalom said...

Oh, my heart is hurting for you. It seems that one of the hardest things about grief is that it makes nothing inconsequential. Peace to you.

Jennifer said...

I share your speechlessness.

Michelle said...

Ouch, ouch. I still remember editing out a problem in chemistry class about chemotherapy drugs, knowing a student's father was dying of cancer. I remember how I felt like the world was running rough shod over my wounds.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

Oh Gannet..............

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

Oh, dear Godde, Gannet. After seventeen years, I remember how much far more innocuous workbook sentences hurt in intensive Greek class the summer after our accident. ("Children are the crown of their parents" and a biblical quote about my daughter's matriarchal namesake). Can't begin to imagine what kind of idiot would choose this example and how much more devastating it would be.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I'm so sorry. Sending you hugs.

Karen said...

devastating. so difficult. you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Sarah S-D said...

ouch. seriously. i cannot imagine a WORSE text to be intensively studying right now. seriously. thinking of you with love.

Kathryn J said...

Sending much love, thoughts, and prayers in the hope that somehow it gives you a small bit of strength and sustenance. There must be other well-behaved verbs.

Rev SS said...

geez! Yes! there must be other well behaved verbs. How many years has that lesson plan been used without thinking about it I wonder? (((GG)))

Magdalene6127 said...

One of the most difficult parts of grief is the world's absolute apathy to it. I am so sorry Gannet.

Carol said...

I am so sorry, GG. There must be a few more regular verbs from which they could choose.

Terri said...

Oh my God....

Diane M. Roth said...

words fail me....((GG))

Lisa :-] said...

Auugghhh!