The Book

Excerpt from: Maiden Voyage of the Mind, Chapter 14

How seldom we strike a spark from the matchstick of stimulating thought, happy enough to be human but too passive to use the primary attribute that makes us human. In contemplation of our situations, we are capable of thinking hard, thinking highly and thinking through our dilemmas. Yet, often enough, we think nothing about maximizing our humanity by exercising this privilege in the moment. Content to follow along passively too much of the time, we are part of the problem. Quietly complaining about the status quo in a dim corner of the workplace, we both fail to acquiesce and fail to contribute to the common good.

Too little contemplation is often the father of desperation. We are well served to consider the benefits of a thoughtful life, thoughtful leadership and thoughtful participation in our work. The rush of time and circumstance are not conducive to the deeper cognitive functions, resulting in superficiality and a sense of futility. Increasingly in our day, depth of thought is a seriously overlooked duty.

Thought is matriarch of the deed, giving birth to a million worthy ambitions, setting new waves into motion and demonstrating that we can turn our dreams into deeds. In the incubator of the mind, we grow destinies, defining ourselves by what we choose to think. The alternative is to shrivel as human beings, swept along by the whim of those who would think for us. Any refusal to participate in the active interchange of thought is a failure to feed the starving soul within that savors every morsel the mind can wrap itself around.

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The mud of creation is in our hands. Shaping it wisely is our way of conquering and subduing the planet we toil upon, but participation in creation was never so complete without the work of our minds to complement and direct the work of our hands. Thus, the work that is mental and the work that is physical results in a beautifully balanced reflection of humanity engaged to the max. Distinct as these functions are, each relies upon the other, each is equal in importance, and each is a blend of both. In the grand scheme of things, these two forms of work are indispensable and often indiscernible, so utterly dependent are they upon each other.

Workers through the generations have taught us that thought is what guides the quality of both our work and our workmanship. As concrete, it becomes the sum and substance of our work. As abstract, it takes us to the cutting edge our capabilities and serves the soulful side of life. As creative, it brings us to the brink of all that is beautiful. Thought is inventive, imaginative and ever new and renewing as it educates, inspires, and solves every problem in its path. In terms of serving soul and securing true success, thought is always the bedrock upon which a life worth living is built.

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