Wednesday 16 February 2011

The Answer Is Never Far Away.

I set myself so many challenges yesterday that I was almost doomed to failure before I began. I was running with my young lad. I wanted to clean my car of all the winter grime. I had white painted and wanted to paint winter.

The car was the easy one. I had found a new product, DryClean. It cleans the car without water and polishes it at the same time. Spray it on spread it then with a soft cloth remove, it works, I could not believe it.

The run went well. For the first two miles we ran and chatted. I was aware he was saying little but still at my side. I said to him, “It is always good to run at a pace where you can still hold a conversation.”  He replied, “Can we slow down then, I can’t talk.”

I painted and the result of my painting is on this blog. I will make no comment here, because I leave that to my other blog.

Before the day was over I added a final little challenge. I managed to walk for two hours. 

As I sat down for the evening, I had a warm glow, of having at least something to show for my day.

How easy it is to look at the prospect of the day and think it cannot be done, and because we believe that nothing is done.  Let me explain!
If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.

The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A Bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee.

We are struggling about with all our problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there if we just raise our sights.

I hope that does not sound like me reverting to my preacher mode, I do not intend to.  My young lad managed to stay with me for the six miles. I suspect he had an early night, but I also suspect he was feeling very good about himself.

Have a challenging and wonderful day.  As Jerry always says, “Today will be a marvellous day.”

This blog is linked to my other.   Winter Is Not The End




5 comments:

  1. When I used to run, I ran 3 miles each time. I cannot imagine doing 6! What an awesome day of accomplishments Ralph! I'm awed!

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  2. Yes, Ralph, today will be a great day. I am finishing my last job on my docket and am very happy about that. I take it as a given that your young lad will be a better runner when you are finished with him. I want to know "the rest of the story", how far the distance run within himself.

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  3. times of action and contemplation are a rhythm i am finding. it's great you are being so active in life. thanks for the stories.

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  4. Love the painting !!

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  5. Hey Ralph, I never "mind" your reverting to "preacher-mode" lol---I think that is your gift! I agree that we often set ourselves up--I'm glad you got so much done today (and like AutumnL...I am so impressed that you run for 6 miles!) Your painting is great...it feels like architecture. :)

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