I don’t think I quite understand the point of this blogging
thing, and I would much rather be outside enjoying such a clear night. Well, I
suppose as the owner of my blog I owe my readers a bit of background on my
life. In 1571 I was born in Germany within the city of Weil de Stadt. I was the
first of seven children in the family and very sickly throughout my childhood.
As were many other children at this time. Three of my dear siblings made it no
further than childhood. I suppose not enough was known about the human body and
medicine to keep the death rates low. My Father was a mercenary soldier; always
running off to work and never home with us. He left one day when I was five and
we never saw him again, though I hold no grudge against him for leaving me alone
in such a state, but still while it was stressful, at least for a while I still
had mother. As for my mother she spent her days taking care of us children and
assisting her own father in his inn. In fact, everyone assisted at the inn
wherever they could. Between those who were old enough to be of use and those
who stayed from an early grave we were never short on hands.
As I grew up mother made sure her children were well in
contact with the Lord. Even as I made my way through the worlds of mathematics
and astronomy I made sure to keep my faith intact, like a well honed sword as I
fought my way across the battlefield of the universe’s endless concepts to be
discussed, theorized, and poured over. In each of my discoveries, theories, and
laws I made sure to keep God in the foreground. For he was the creator of all we
have about us to study, still watches over us all to this very moment, and
always will J. Though
my Mother did feed my religious side, she left to be with Father somewhere far
off for quite a while. The separation from both my parents was quite painful,
but I was left with Grandfather Heinrich at the inn. He valued the idea of me
getting an education and sent me to local schools. However, Grandfather didn’t
wish to pay to send me to school, so he had me working full time at the inn.
Until business died down that is. With a decrease in customers, there was no
real reason to hold back on my education. With some generous coaxing by my
former teachers I headed off to continue my schooling with a scholarship from the Duke of
Württemberg and a reluctant approval
from my parents. Well I suppose that this will be enough for now. I don't want to bore anyone too much with stories of an old scholars childhood.
My dear Kepler, your life seems wrought with troubles. I, too, didn't have much contact with my parents but that was true for many of my time, especially if they were sent off to school as I was. Your faith in both yourself and your God is truly impressive. There were many days, while I watched the wind whipped sea and the Roman boats wrecked within it, that I both cursed and thanked Poseidon in turn. There were even days that I tore my eyes away with no belief in me at all. Mathematics took over as my new God, geometry my new heaven, for those things are knowable and reachable, even if they seem far away as the stars in the sky. I look forward to reading more of your history and your work. Keep strength my friend,
ReplyDeleteArchimedes
Pythagoras to Kepler
ReplyDeleteHerr Kepler,
It is a pleasure to finally correspond with you. They who devote themselves to the study of the heavens are few and far between, and I find it a pleasure to write one. I commend your faith through the innumerable trials you have undergone. Do the God(s) speak to you when you gaze up into the night sky? I encourage to keep strong in your love of math, even though many a rich man may try to influence your work for worldly goods. What is it that draws you so strongly to mathematics despite the darkness that fills this hard world?
Always in my heart,
Pythagoras