"K" is for Knowing

For today, I've included a short excerpt from my young adult novel, Provex City. This scene is during the first candid conversation between Mr. Gordon and Oliver, and in this excerpt, Mr. Gordon describes the difference between knowing and believing.

“Let’s establish what you know and what you believe," Mr. Gordon said. "A belief would be something you think is true, but you don’t have first-hand experience of; it’s based on faith. Something you have first-hand experience of is something you know to be true, no matter what anyone else says. No one can talk you out of or convince you against something you know to be true. But someone can change your mind on a belief. Throughout your life your beliefs will change, but what you know will not. What you believe you may come to know, but never the other way around.

“Right now, what you think you know about the world around you are actually beliefs. You thought you knew that instantaneous healing through the power of thought was impossible. Until about a half hour ago, you knew that to be true. You believed it to be true—as do most people—but you found out that you actually didn’t know that at all. You are now one of a select few who know that instantaneous healing through the power of thought is possible and accessible.

“Let me make one thing clear. Nothing we talk about in our sessions together is restricted to an elite few or people that were born special. Everything we talk about is accessible to anyone who can think for himself.”

“You’re still just a regular person?” I asked.

“You and I both. This is not magic. But, like I said on the first day of class, it may seem like magic to those who are unaware. You are not one of those people anymore. You’re now aware of the tip of the iceberg, and we’re going to swim under the water and see how deep the iceberg really goes."

- Provex City, pages 61-62