Science, Truth and Other Values

True story, as told by Dr. Benno Muller-Hill, genetics professor at Germany’s University of Cologne, in The Quarterly Review of Biology, from when he was a high school student.

He was the 40th student in line.

They were getting to look at a planet through a teacher’s telescope.

The first student in line said he couldn’t see anything because he was so near-sighted, so the teacher showed him how adjust the focus.  Excitedly, the student said he could see the planet and stepped aside for the next in line.

Many of the next 38 also adjusted the focus, and all announced they could see the planet.

The next-to-last student said he couldn’t see anything.

The irritated teacher again pointed out the focus adjustments, which the student used carefully.

“I still can’t see anything,” he said cautiously.  “It’s like it’s all just dark.”

It was then that the teacher noticed the lens cap was still on the other end of the telescope.

Nobody had seen anything through the telescope.

Reminds me to do what Psalm 34:8 says — “Taste and see that The Lord is good” — and to experience God’s grace for real for myself.

What lesson(s) do you learn from that goofy story of the telescope lens cap?  I’d love to hear from you.