Yoda's Wise Counsel

Yoda, the Jedi Master and the head of the Jedi Council in the Star Wars Series once told his young padawan, Luke Skywalker, "Do or do not, there is no try." His counsel was simple, do the tasks set before you, because even failing at them is still doing them, just not successfully. Yoda just wants Luke not to give up so quickly. It's like a team that forfeits by never entering the court for they will never know if they can win. They have to do before they can do successfully.

I can't help but think about our building addition this morning. It's on my mind for many reasons, foremost because it was officially started yesterday. Today, weather permitting, we'll get footers poured and it will start looking like a building! By the end of the week we'll have walls (block foundations, but still the beginnings of walls!) It is exciting.

It's amazing what simply starting something does to the mind and soul. Planning is good, but doing is even better. It's tangible, visible.

I had looked at pictures of the Holy Land for years, trying to get the lay of the land, the vision of mountains, rivers, lakes, wilderness in the middle east. But the real thing didn't even compare to my imagination. O, sure, when reading a book the imagination is critical to establishing context, then when the movie comes out it looks nothing like the images in your head...This is different. I'm talking about reality, the difference between pictures of the Grand Canyon, the blue-green waters of the Caribbean, or a sunset at Key West and the real thing. There is no comparison, really.

While it's true that we can learn from the experiences of others, we can learn more from our own experiences, which means we have to "get off the bench," sometimes; to get in the game, and feel the adrenaline rush.

Planning is crucial, necessary, but useless if action is never taken!

In this time of the year, it is normal for many plans to be made. This year I'm not going to let a little laziness get in the way of my doing; carrying out the plans I've made.

Whether it's reading the Bible, exercising, getting the house and/or finances in order, then finish the planning and just start!

Remember Yoda's advice, "Do or do not. there is no try." It makes all the difference in re-energizing the mind and the soul.

Peace ><>
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