A Pause for Uplift

A friend of mine asked that my weekend blog be of general principle and positive boost. I have tried to do that and will continue in that vein on Saturdays.  Here’s this week’s offering.

Dave Hodges writes a blog named www.Daveswordsofwisdom.com. He has presented the following as a special treat:

            “Our eyes will always see so much more

             Once we begin to open out mind to the world around us.”

It is not the eyes which need to be open, but the mind. Good thought, that! Not an easy task for any of us. Get tired enough of negativity and it gets a little easier; probably from exhaustion and wishing for calm! An open mind is receptive to new ideas. Kind ideas. Generous attitudes toward others. And problem solving becomes so much easier.

From Albert Einstein comes this gem:

            “Our task must be to free ourselves…by widening our circle of compassion to

             Embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”

It has taken me decades to catch up with Einstein’s quotes. He has provided us with so much intellectual fodder. New physics and expansive science. In depth understanding of old enigmas. Yet somehow he broke through to full humanity as well. I have shared with you in this space many offerings from Einstein. The breadth and depth of his thinking is mind boggling. So bright and fresh. So seminal. Yet so philosophically whole it makes me gasp. I wonder if the atom bomb and the misery it caused made him rethink philosophy. Perhaps the chronology of his statements/quotes would help us understand that?

Another scientist of large reputation and productivity is Neil deGrasse Tyson. You will remember him from his many appearances on cable channels focusing on science. He shares this thought with us today:

            “The good thing about science is that it’s

             True whether or not you believe in it.”

Yes. It takes time for us to understand it. Non belief is only one stage of the process. If the science is true, if it is correct, then eventually we will live with it comfortably or not. Regardless, its truth rules. This is not politics. This is not propaganda. We must live with it whether we like it or not.

Perhaps you will remember a quote from Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp’s role):

            “The problem is not the problem. The problem is

             Your attitude about the problem.

             Do you understand?”

I get it Jack! I get it. Now to help the others get it.

Pondering these ideas is a good thing to do over a weekend. Hope you enjoy these as much as I already have!

November 17, 2012