Awakening a Spark

In the mid 1800s, Colonel James Anderson decided to open up his library of over 300 books to the young working boys of Allegheny, a small town in Pennsylvania. These were teenage boys who worked 8-12 hour days to support their families, boys who otherwise would not have been able to afford the books in Colonel Anderson’s library.

The impact of Colonel Anderson’s simple kindness was life changing. In the words of one of those boys:

“My dear friend, Tom Miller, one of the inner circle, lived near Colonel Anderson and introduced me to him, and in this way the windows were opened in the walls of my dungeon through which the light of knowledge streamed in. Every day’s toil and even the long hours of night service were lightened by the book which I carried about with me and read in the intervals that could be snatched from duty. And the future was made bright by the thought that when Saturday came a new volume could be obtained…. Nothing contributed so much to keep my companions and myself clear of low fellowship and bad habits as the beneficence of the good Colonel.

This boy would grow up to be Andrew Carnegie, the steel tycoon who would pay forward the good Colonel’s kindness tenfold by using his fortune to support educational institutions, the building of theaters, child welfare centers and over 2,500 libraries.

Regardless  of one’s circumstance, we all have more to give than we know.  Countless are the opportunities  offered daily to serve. A simple act of kindness rooted in love for another can awaken a spark within him through which he can light up his world.

Practice Simplicity With Constant Repetition

Unhappy with his weight, Santiago decided to begin an exercise routine with a trainer at his local gym. His seriousness was evident by his diligent efforts day after day despite the soreness of his body after each workout. He expected to make great strides and was disappointed at having lost only six pounds in the first month. “These exercises are not effective,” he sometimes said to his trainer. Slowly his enthusiasm waned … he terminated his appointments with the trainer and began looking online for more complex routines. He would begin one routine only to stop it after a few weeks since his desired objective was not attained. And so it went for two years … the thrill of a new routine, its practice for a few weeks, subsequently followed by his apathy and the longing for a newer, more effective routine. He never practiced any particular routine long enough to reap its benefits.

Leaving the grocery store one morning, he saw a familiar face but could not quite remember how he knew the individual. “Long time Santiago, how have you been? We have not seen you at the gym in a while.” Santiago instantly remembered the voice of his former workout partner, Frederick, who stayed with the trainer after Santiago left. Frederick was almost unrecognizable, his face looked slimmer and his belly had lost its roundness.  Santiago stood before his old friend in complete disbelief of his remarkable progress and realized his mistake in prematurely leaving the trainer.

Regarding personal growth, the incessant desire for newer knowledge without first consistently putting to practice previously gained insights is indolence disguised as earnest longing. It is through the consistent practice of the little things that real knowledge expands, not through outwardly searching for newer books and insights. With the consistent practice of the little things, however, the right books and circumstances will emerge at the appropriate time without externally seeking them out.

Leap or Remain Bound

A bird gazes at the sky and hesitates to take flight. It is not because it does not know how to fly– it does. It is not because its wings are inoperative–they work. It is not because it is without the willpower — it is within.

The bird knows how to fly, and it has both the wings and the willpower. But its wings are inhibited, its willpower is fragile and its wings unsteady, because … deep within, the bird is not utterly convinced that the potential joys of being borne aloft this unknown airspace will outweigh the more familiar and seemingly closer pleasures of the ground.

And so the bird remains earthbound, until the moment it can summon enough courage to take that self-preservative leap on the strength of hope and faith, or remain bound forever. It must decide, for the ground is quickly collapsing beneath it.

~By Dr. Ikenna Q Ezealah

www.foundationforascent.com