Another Run Through the Planer

More work on the American Revival

“Oh, shut up.”

My head snapped around. A little old lady, stricken with Alzheimer’s, glowered at me. Apparently, the disease hadn’t ruined her sensibility.

“I will, in a moment. I’m almost done.”

The new guy on the ward had to pull his eyebrows off the ceiling.

“Tough crowd, eh?” I laughed his way. “They keep me straight.” We finished learning about Cuba. “More than a sandwich, folks, more than a sandwich.”

Down to Size

I see it every day–why freedom of speech is the ability to think. An idea pops into my head, and makes its way to a blog, or into a talk. People sit around, cross their arms, or roll their eyes, or nod their heads approvingly, or drop me a note with a corresponding thought, or say “really, Josh?”

We hammer it out, and get somewhere. The stupid parts get sawn off, like a gnarly board fed through the planing machine in the wood shop. An oak knot makes the knives whine. A disguised ploy to make myself look good is found out right quick with the folks I talk with.

Sometimes, they’ve lost their patience, in a medical sense, and say “Oh, shut up.”

(And sometimes it’s warranted in any frame of mind.)

Usually people add to the ideas, trim them, flip them as needed, and we all cook together.

We go along, and we get somewhere. There’s a big task ahead, so it’s with relish that I dig in with everyone as we set our minds to the project.

On Candles and Main Feeds

Big thanks to “C” and “A” for their insightful notes as we grapple with the idea of this American Revival.

“C” sent along this excellent Perry Como tune.

“A” proposed an intriguing framework for discussion, and for building bridges on a large scale.

Through their thoughts, and a few other conversations, I’ve got the latest version of the American Revival idea. I’m sure it’ll need a few more passes through the planer, but here’s a start.

Problem: It’s dark. The lights are broken.

Solution A: Fix the main feed. (Systemic issues, new laws, etc. Top down.)

Solution B: Light a candle. (Strengthen the individual, bottom up.)

I think both are needed. My current ability is best aligned with solution B, although I’m interested in both, and see how both are needed.

This Little Light of Mine

The question started out what do to? Then what can I do? Then what are ideals I think valuable, and how do I grow them?

Today, I’m plagiarizing my mother’s many years of hard work and almost exact phrasing to set up the question: This little light of mine…how do I grow it?

Returning to the Triangle idea, and asking what’s the process of being a light?

Wednesday’s Triangle post had “outward works” in place of building. I viewed “learning” as reading great works. I’ve fixed this. It takes many forms. The darkness we face isn’t from a shortage of classical knowledge or the exercise of intellect (and often to the opposite; Knowledge isn’t wisdom).

What’s a road map for individual improvement, for growing that light? Is it this?

I can learn, apply what I learn to improve, and then bring that out into the world.

Unbalance

Only learning: That’s me reading a self-help book, and doing nothing.

Only growing: That’s getting stuck in the gym.

Only building: That’s blogging without thinking, or building a business without reason.

Only learning and building: That’s blogging about new things I haven’t applied and tried.

Only learning and growing: That’s reading about a new exercise, hitting the gym, and never moving furniture or otherwise using strength.

Only growing and building: That’s making a better version of the same thing, a band playing it’s one hit over and over.

Off to Salem

Well folks, thanks for reading, thanks for thinking, and thanks for the collaboration. I’m off to Salem in a bit. A quote book dropped this gem recently:

In Salem, VA, it’s illegal to leave the house without knowing where you’re going.

Imagine the sparks when the cops and the missionaries stop each other in the street.

Have a great weekend! If you’re nearby, swing by the Peaks of Otter lodge on Saturday and Sunday evening. I’m hosting a Perseid meteor watch party both nights.

–Josh