Glia for the brain

I heard from a good friend tonight. I've known her 13 years, but 9 years of that time she has lived in proximities not close to me. When she calls, I am always guaranteed a laugh. She is so jovial and upbeat. Life gets so routine and mundane that the occasional voice that lifts the spirit is cherished. I wish her well on this evening, hoping life affects her in the same way that she affects me and others.

I heard from another friend yesterday. He walked into my office and said that he wanted to thank me for the experiences I had given him this year. He is a humble man. He made me feel good about what I had done. I wish him well, too. I hope he rises to every future occasion in his humility.

The day before that a lady I work with made a special effort to let me know that the office had not been the same in my absence of two day. What a way to start a day. I hope she finds many that lift her in the way that she did me.

And the day before that, an investment I have received a good word from an agency that makes it have higher value. I had taken the day off for that. It encouraged my heart tremendously since that investment has such a long way to go to become profitable.

I could write more. But, it's those little mundane things that occur that, taken together, make for a very encouraging week. It's those same little mundane things that could easily be overlooked or not taken notice of. They could be swamped by the "bigger" matters of a day's work. But, truly there are not bigger matters than encouragement for the heart, laughter for the mind. Peace and tranquility are built by positive, pleasant input. I thank the Creator for the hope and peace he gives through the people that surround me.

Competing voices

Today I heard some news that I didn't like. So, I watched to see what my reaction would be. I found myself leary of what the future might hold. The news was about someone else, not me. But, it could set in motion a domino effect for someone to take control of an area that I would find hard to deal with and that would cause me to lose face in a rather indirect way. I don't like being leary. I'd rather have the status quo. But, as life has been prone to do, it has taken another twist in its long and winding saga. The chain of events that I would not like, of course, might not happen at all. But, it could. I don't even know that I could put a percentage chance of this person being in a prospective position that would make me feel awkward.

I am a little surprised at my reaction. I usually don't care about speculative matters so much. I do hear a faint echo of a voice, "Don't worry what tomorrow may bring. Tomorrow has enough worries of its own." So, I wait and try to develop a plan B. I am forced to do at least that much because another voice makes itself heard, "No one goes into a battle unprepared. He first counts the cost."

It'll be interesting to see which voice becomes loudest.

Being "push"y

"What would happen if..." is a good game to play in order to get people thinking beyond what they are used to seeing or believing. A person can have a lot of fun with the game. Sometimes games have real life applications, such as Chess. At other times game applications don't simulate life much at all, like Tiddly Winks. But this game? This game challenges one not to simulate the familiar, but only the possible.

In science the game has helped. What would happen if there is a place in the universe so dense, so filled with gravity, that even light would be trapped? Of course, the answer is now a well known principle known as the black hole. What would happen if we didn't have to travel across the time continuum? That, too, has been accomplished with the exploration of the theory of worm holes.

In language the game has helped push to greater understanding. What would happen if any language's phonological system derived from forming similar sounds in a word so that the possible combinations are not arbitrary but predictable and patterned? It's true. The idea has been captured in the optimality theory. What would happen if language were not arbitrary in the first place, depending on what country in the world you were born into? That chase has been going on for years and has a formal name, Universal Grammar. The theory is still being explored, but it is becoming clearer all the time what the rules are in Universal Grammar.

These are just two of a great many scientific endeavors. The game helps to expand an existing body of knowledge. Now, what would happen if this game were to be applied to religion in general or to New Testament studies in particular? Would the game further one's insight into spirituality? Would the nature of one's "soul" be better understood? Would it hamper the direction one is currently taking? Would it alienate others from an existing bond? Would the set of questions to explore be limited? Would the Creator think that sacred ground should not be explored in the same way science is explored?

"What would happen if..." makes me a restless soul. Not everyone is built that way. But when my time has ended here, I want to be known for having understood as much as possible during my little capsule of time and for having "pushed" something or someone to a greater level of understanding.

Values peeking through

Analogies abound using sports. Some of the recent ones are the ones listed.

1) You have to go the whole 9 yards.

2) That idea is out of left field.

3) You can't hit a home run every time you get to the plate.

4) A law called "3 strikes and you're out."

5) Someone fumbled the account.

6) At least hand it off to someone else if you can't do it.

7) Someone is expected of "foul" play.

8) How many "hurdles" stand in your way?

9) We're in the "home stretch" of the school year.

10) You're just batting 1000 on that project, aren't you?

Etc...

It's one of the facts about language that we use analogies to get a point across or to increase understanding. That means that idioms represent the underlying values in a society. Sports analogies abound because sports are important in our society. But beyond the type of analogy being used, a value is present in the analogy. George Lakoff is the researcher most familiar with this phenomenon. So, #4 on the list above shows a value of toleration in the legal system. # 8 above lets us know that people know there will be obstacles in life and that one has to really work hard or out-think the competition in order to overcome. All 10 in one way or another represent a philosophy of life.

Next time you use a comparison, notice what the underlying value is. It will represent what you think is really important in life. If you like the value, keep using the analogy. If you don't like the value, you might work on changing your outlook. The analogy that houses the value will take care of itself. You'll see that it will adjust accordingly.

Prints on the mind

One of the most beautiful sites in the world is in China. There roundtop mountains covered in greenery rise to the sky leaving doaens of little valleys sagging between these lush rountops. Another is in Hawaii. It's a beach at the bottom of a lava flow that once glowed with heat. Another appears in the Rockies. It's an alpine lake nestled against the resplendent Teton peaks. Another... ad infinitum.

Unique places exist all over the earth. Each exudes its own beauty in its own setting. Nature has a lesson here.

Each person leaves an imprint behind in the minds of others around us. It's an imprint of beauty... hopefully. Some imprints are not. We get to leave thousands of imprints in our lifetime. But, it's like the roundtops in China. There are some angles more beautiful than others for the mind to remember. The sandy Hawaiian beaches have some picture angles prettier than the lava flow beach, but not many.

We form our opinions from the imprints people leave behind them. Perhaps, the mystique, the intrigue is anticipating what the next imprint will be because the last one left us feeling so warm, or cheerful, or valued. If the last imprint was not beautiful, but horrid, then hope is born.

May the Creator hear the cries of those full of hope—waiting on a beautiful imprint from someone, anyone. And may he fill the praise of those full of appreciation—waiting on the next extraordinary imprint.