How Do We Know?

 Yesterday, I listened to an interview with a comedian on the Washington Post's live site. He said something that I've always known, but he gave it a different perspective.  I have always known that to be a good writer, you should write about what you know.  I stated that in the first blog of this series, and then listed the things I think I know something about:  the Bible, Judaism, and so on.

The comedian stated that the things we know well enough to write about are not what are external to us, but internal.  I should not write objectively about Judaism, but subjectively, what does being Jewish mean to me.  Rather than just trying to interpret the Bible, I should write why interpreting it is so important to me.  And so, I should try to write more about what I know about me.  

I am trying to learn about myself as much as I can.  I may have started too late in this search to have any great impact on myself, but the search is fascinating.  As I stated earlier, I am reading about psychoanalysis and the theories of the mind.  I am trying to look back into my early years to determine why I am the way I am.  I am also trying to figure out why it is important to me to write as much as I can, even though I may not have many readers.  I am hopeful that my insights have something of value, so I try to share them.

I ponder what knowledge has to do with memory.  Do I know things because I remember them.  Do I remember them because they are important to me?  I can quote many passages from the Bible.  I can remember important facts, dates, characters and events in Jewish history.  I can remember events from ancient history and how they impacted ancient Israel.  But I can't remember what I had for dinner last week.  Or, if I don't put my keys in the same place, where they might be.

I ask my wife to critique what I write for this blog before I post it.  She did not listen to the interview with the comedian, but she understands the point he was making.  She urges me to not only describe something, but to explain in more detail why is important to me, why I like to write about it and then  why it is important to share.  It is obvious to me that writing has become important to me, since I am trying to do it every day.  In a blog, unlike a book, I have no pre-planned destination.  I am curious where my mind is going to take me each day.  

Like many, I have insecurities.  Am I a good writer?  I once attended a lecture with Chaim Potok, the acclaimed author, and I asked him how and when does he know that his writing is good enough.  His answer was that he just knew.  I wish I had his confidence.