Day 70 Divine Discontent

Paul Cézanne, A Painter at Work, 1874–5 (Denver Art Museum)

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“A discontent, is it a divine discontent? is upon us; and assuredly we should hail a workable, effectual philosophy of education as a deliverance from much perplexity.”
 
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“Depend upon it, there is something at work in the child––genius, humanity, poetry, ambition, pride of family; it is that he wants outlet and exercise for an inherited trait almost too big for his childish soul. Rosa Bonheur was observed to be a restless child whose little shoes of life were a misfit: lessons did not please her, and play did not please her; and her artist father hit on the notion of soothing the child's divine discontent by––apprenticing her to a needlewoman! Happily, she broke her bonds, and we have her pictures.”
 
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“If educational work of the best kind had not been going on amongst us for the last two or three decades, we should not have arrived at this 'divine discontent.' All the same, it is pretty evident that the time has come when we must change our front.” 

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“Educational Unrest. ––We have been made familiar with the phrase 'educational unrest,' and we all feel its fitness. Never were there more able and devoted teachers, whether as the heads or on the staffs of schools of all classes. Money, labour, and research are freely spent on education, theory is widely studied, and pains are taken to learn what is done elsewhere; yet there is something amiss beyond that 'divine discontent' which leads to effort. We know that a change of front is necessary; and we are ready, provided that the change be something more than an experiment.”

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“We want a new start: we are sick of ourselves and of knowing in advance how we shall believe and how we shall feel on all occasions; the change we half-unconsciously desire is to other aims, other ways of looking at things. We feel that we are more than there is room for; other conditions might give us room; we don't know; any way, we are uneasy. These are two or three of the secret matters that oppress us, and we are in need of a philosophy which shall deal with such things of the spirit. We believe we should be able to rise to its demands, however exigeant, for the failure is not in us or in human nature so much as in our limited knowledge of conditions.”

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“ …the thirst comes on us again; for it is indeed that divine discontent to which the psalmist gives voice,- ‘My soul is athirst for God, the living God.’”

 
Examen: Mason’s revolution begins with a divine discontent.  In a quiet space, set a timer for 15 minutes. Keeping the pencil moving so as not to overthink, write an account (or a list) starting with “My divine discontent is…” Simply notice what comes up or share with a friend if that feels comfortable.  You could also do a picture study on one of Rosa Bonheur’s paintings.
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A discontent, is it: Charlotte M. Mason, Home Education, 1:Preface.
Depend upon it:Charlotte M. Mason, Parents and Children, 2:80.
If educational work: Charlotte M. Mason, School Education, 3:45.
Educational Unrest.--We: 3:219–20.
We want a new: Charlotte M. Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education, 6:336.
...the thirst comes on: Mason, Scale How Meditations, 213.
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Day 70 Divine Discontent meditation/100 days copyright Laurie Bestvater 2025

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