Jack’s Winning Words 11/6/14
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”  (Henry David Thoreau)  Recently I referred to Da Vinci as a polymath.  Thoreau was one, too.  It’s hard to describe the polymath.  We might refer to them as nerds.  Can you think of some contemporary nerds?  Thoreau was a strict environmentalist, too.  In today’s world, he’d be a recycler and a composter.  On issues of the environment, most of us “talk the talk.”  Henry David “walked the talk.”    ;-)  Jack  

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  This quote seems to address the true significance between the quantitative (world) and the qualitative (spirit). The two exist together as we engage something; but the spirit exists beyond the end of the something.====JACK:  Like things temporal and things eternal?  Like life and eternal life?

FROM HONEST JOHN:  If what you see is not the Truth or any semblance of the a Truth, then it matters that you have just polluted your brain.====JACK:  You're right, but the problem is that different people have different concepts of what is the truth.  Many of those who went to the polling places on Tuesday thought that they were voting for "the truth."  Did the Truth win or lose?
====JOHN:  I'm not sure if Descartes or Socrates would see political opinions as having to do with the search for Truth.====JACK:  Of course, the concept of Truth is not the same in each person's mind.  Sometimes I can't believe that a person sees something as Truth when I see it as non-Truth. ====JOHN:  Since you don't see any Truth, that must be a reoccurring event====JACK:  Thanks for your sharing your thoughts.

FROM TARMART REV:  Hopefully found that way with my "faith walk" . . .  "a peculiar person, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14) . . . sounds a little nicer that "a nerd", but probably found to be in the same ballpark in expression.====JACK:  Some churches have a literal "faith walk" or prayer lane" where people can meander on a path in an open area, stopping at certain places to meditate or pray.  Do you have such a place for your congregation?   Or, are you thinking of a "faith walk" as it exists in your own mind?  Many nerds or polymaths are not "religious" in the traditional sense.  Does that exclude them from being "faith" people?====REV:  The Word says without faith we cannot please God...I'm thinking without faith, one of godly faith or not, would not be able to ever please themselves. The Catholics and Orthodox seems to capture those stages of meditation with their "statues" as I would call them placed at various places within their altar areas, sanctuaries and grounds. We at one time had similar ideas with our stained glass windows...not so much anymore with our "downsizing philosophy" in "come as you are" and enjoy your experience at church with coffee in hand. My expression of "faith walk" more to my individual walk and expression of faith towards "our Father" in Heaven.====JACK:  One of our local churches has a small park on the church grounds called, A Labyrinth.  A labyrinth usually takes the form of a circle. It is used for walking meditation, reflection, and prayer. A labyrinth is not a maze. Rather, it has a single, circuitous path; there are no dead ends or cul de sacs. You cannot get lost if you trust the path.
There is no one right way to use the labyrinth, except to approach it with an open heart, free of expectation, and to surrender to the path that lies before you. Follow it deliberately, all the way in to the center, and back out again. Don’t rush. Plan to spend 20-30 minutes – or more. It may be helpful to think of the path in as an opportunity to release a burden.  Life is full of stresses and strains, ups and downs, twists and turns. Often it feels like we live in a rat race, and it doesn’t take much for the race to be disrupted: job loss, foreclosure, divorce, illness, death of a loved one, any setback. Then what? A prayer labyrinth offers the opportunity to step away, to both experience and reflect on our lives, come what may, through a healing, life-giving metaphor: not a rat race, but a purposeful journey.  We don’t live our lives in straight lines. The labyrinth reminds us of that and lends us perspective.  Perhaps there's a place for something like this in your community.

FROM AW IN MICHIGAN:  Jack, this one is so good, you may wish to repeat it a few times each year to  help us keep us reminded.  Kind of goes along with the expression: "The meanings of words are  in the minds of people." When I fist heard that one, it really helped my interactions.   Thanks. ====JACK:  Much of what Thoreau did and wrote caused people think and then think some more.  He was a remarkable person.  Thanks for your response.

 FROM SBP IN FLORIDA:  Reflecting on the previous comment to which I fully subscribe, it seems, to my way of responding to your words, to lead in at least two directions ( and one of which , I'll confess, was generated by some of the responses.)  First, I believe those who "walk the talk" of loving one another, helping each other, etc. do not need to be declared "nerds". They are imbued with doing God's will to the best of their ability....without pontification or labeling.  And, secondly, for the "Da Vinci types" ....there may not be many individuals in the same category as Da Vinci, but there are countless "nerds" dreaming of and sketching such as life on Mars or the moon, the building in Dubai designed to air cool itself sans AC, in the world of electronics, trains running on a magnetic rail system, in the health field, and on and on. And as for the labyrinths, I've seen one. It's thought provoking. I'm one who has to do my meditating walking the labyrinth of living. WW does have a way of stirring thinking. ====JACK:  Most of the nerds that I know are really nice people.  (time out!) I went to check the etymology of "nerd."  It seems to have originated in the 1950s, with no explanation as to how.  It's a quirky word that began as a derogatory term, but has been reclaimed and now most nerds are held in honor, especially when you need one to fix your quirky computer.  A similar word is, geek.  ...but now the geeks have their own little Geek Squad cars.

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  In today's world of specialization, you won't find any polymaths. Maybe polymaths within specialized disciplines, but that's not a true polymath according to its Greek origin.====JACK:  Some of the polymaths that I admire are...Copernicus, Michelangelo, Edison, Franklin, Jefferson, Jobs.  Notice that a first name doesn't have to be given in order to identify them.