Saturday, April 23, 2011

You Can Take it With You

We've all heard the saying, "You can't take it with you." when referring to our material possessions, and our future deaths. No matter how rich we become, it can't go with us beyond the grave. The Emperor of China tried to take as much as possible with him, and filled his tomb with terra cotta soldiers in the hope that this would assure him some protection after death. But in reality, we came in to this world with nothing but the body we were given, and we go out of it pretty much the same way. But there are some things we can take with us. We can take our knowledge, our education, our memories, and our relationships.

The other day while I was eating lunch and surfing channels on television, I ran across a game show called "Cash cab". The host of the show drives a cab around New York. He picks up unsuspecting passengers, and when they get in the cab, the interior lights up with flashing lights, and he informs them that they are now part of a game show, and asks if they would like to play. They tell him their destination in the city, and they get to play the game for as long as the cab ride lasts. On this particular show, three people got in to the cab, and agreed to play the game. As the game progressed, and the three contestants answered almost every question right, they finally admitted that they were three physicists! (two were astro-physicists) By the end of the game, they had made a new record of money earned on the show, totaling $3,000!

I do think that only intelligent people would go in to a field of study such as this, but at the same time, I could tell that they were very well read. I kept thinking that this was one occasion when the cost of their education paid off! :) But it was really impressive to watch the ease with which they answered the questions. It really made me want to read and study more.

I found a very interesting article that was shared by a friend on facebook. It talks about how there is so much literature in the world, that we can't even begin to read even a portion of it. So many beautiful writings will go unread by many. This really made me want to focus less on things like television, and more on reading.

In handwriting analysis, there is a writing trait that is found in the handwriting of people who are "selective learners". I actually think most people fall in this category. This is a person who will stretch to learn, but only in areas that they have interest. Sadder still are those who have the trait of not wanting to learn at all. I was talking to a friend yesterday and she mentioned that she didn't like to attend a local book club. I asked why, and she told me that they didn't read the kind of books she likes to read. I asked her what kind of books she likes to read, and she answered, "I don't like books that make me have to think." Wow. Really? I'm just the opposite! I don't want mindless dribble! I only want books that are meaningful!

So the task for me is to focus on reading more. And not only reading more, but reading things that make me think and learn in areas which I may not have previously had interest. To quote a character from Harry Potter, "Broaden your minds!" :) I've already had roughly 45 years to read, and I don't think I've taken full advantage of it. How many more years do I have left in this life? No one knows that. But what I do know is that there are some things I can take with me.

3 comments:

Inklings said...

I like to think we can take journals and blogs with us, because in the scriptures it says, "What is recorded on earth is recorded in heaven."
The gospel according to Inklings. :0)

Nene said...

I'm with you on reading books that make me think, or where I learn something.

I just finished THE SILENCE OF GOD, which is a book about the only LDS family in Russia during the Cold War. It was a historical novel, but at the end of each chaper were notes on the actual events. Very interesting!

Rummuser said...

That is a very interesting post Delrious. It is interesting enough for me to look forward to your LBC post coming Friday.