"What books does it behoove me to know?"
--Lectures on English Literature by H. Reed, 1878
BEHOOVE: to be morally needful or requisite to; to be proper or due; useful.
Behoove originally came from the Old English bihof, utility... BI + hof/hoof (to heave, raise, as in taking up, receiving). The sense was that something was necessary to receive and make use of.
This Anglo-Saxon word is already seen in print in A.D. 890, when King Alfred translated Bede's History of the English People from Latin to Old English... occurring in a wonderful little phrase, "Mycel wund behófaþ mycles læcedómes" (A great wound needs a great remedy).
Which leads me back to my quote at the top of the post... what books does it behoove me to know? Indeed, what insights and experiences from other people ought I to take in, that would benefit me?
It behooves me this week to be a learner, not only a teacher, ready to learn from my students too. Even they stumble upon truth that has not occurred to us older, wiser folks. That is wonderfully humbling. If I choose to expect to receive good ideas from others, I will listen better to them (a skill I want to grow in). I'll be back to share what the kids come up with this week.
May you have a "behoovable" moment too.
1 comment:
I think right now it behooves me to be on my knees in prayer - there is so much going on in our church and school that seem especially vulnerable in this economy.
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