What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

This is an excerpt from my good friend Sarah’s blog.  (For the full blog, go here.)  I found it quite thought-provoking, and decided to share/comment.

“What will be the fossils that our civilization leave behind?

Our ideas and thoughts are our greatest creations. In fact, they all carry aspects of our existence!   Does this mean that this lab work I did today, and yesterday, and the day before that will be for nothing if the very thing that it will produce (my thesis) will be forever wiped from the surface of the Earth?

If this is true, then. WHAT ARE WE DOING?? Why continue at all? Why. try. anything??

Why would you run a race you didn’t think you could win? Why would you apply for a job you weren’t sure you were going to get? Why would you try to cook something you thought you would mess-up? Why would you write a paper you didn’t think had a chance at getting published? Why would I write a thesis I know won’t exist in the future?

Well, because the world would be a stupid place if no one ever tried anything, and because we must honor something inside us, regardless of the world beyond the boundary of our bodies.”

I think our thoughts and ideas are expressed by our actions.  What we do is a direct result of who we are.  Yes, our tangible possessions will cease to exist at some point, but hopefully any idea of importance will last.  Just think of all the people throughout history that accomplished great things.  “We are familiar with the great scientific and technological discoveries.  Those of Copernicus, Newton, Edison, and Einstein are just a few examples…You may be the next Einstein; yet even if you are not, the way in which you live your life is of great importance to yourself, your loved ones, and in some significant way, to the world as a whole.”  Maybe Sarah’s thesis will change the world…or maybe she is right.  What if only a handful of people actually read it?  Does that make it any less important?  Our desire to try should not be conditional upon whether we succeed or find fame and glory.   “I’ve learned …to detach myself from the results of what I do, because those are not in my hands. “ (Vandana Shiva)

It doesn’t make it easy.  At least not for me.  I know that you have to begin before  you can succeed (or fail), but that first step is always the hardest.

In the end, these are all valid questions.  Why bother?  From a Christian perspective, our goal is to live our lives to the best of our ability, and to glorify God.  Do your best, and don’t worry about things you can’t control.  Indeed, the world would be a “stupid” place if no one ever tried.  This reminds me of the Parable of the Talents.  Here is the cliff notes version of the story:  A man gives his three servants some money.  Upon returning, he asked them what they did with the money.  The first was given five talents, and made five more.  The second was given two talents, and made two more.  The last servant buried the one talent he was given for safekeeping.  He was admonished for not investing his money.  An interpretation of the parable is that we should wisely use what we are given.  If we invest our money, thoughts, ideas, talents, etc., we will get more back than if we were to just keep these things hidden away.  By doing this, we honor ourselves, each other, and (IMO) a Higher Power.

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