A WOMAN'S VIEW ~ Lenore Buth

How did Albert Einstein teach us about human potential?

Admittedly, I have a quirky mind, but I like this Einstein quote:  

“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” 

I laughed the first time I read those words, but then their logic hit me. 

I think Einstein was talking about more than fish. About people. You and me.

Think about it, don't we often judge people by what we expect of them, rather than by what they're capable of?

Even people we love?

I thought of that quote when I heard a radio profile celebrating the late Frank Loesser, a beloved composer and lyricist. You've heard his music if you've seen Guys and Dolls or How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also composed 700 other tunes used on Broadway and in more than 60 movies. 

His parents must have been bursting with pride. Right?

Well, not quite

In the Loesser family classical music reigned supreme and Frank's father was a professional pianist. 

Although he was musically gifted, Frank dropped out of New York's City College after just a year. He tried a number of jobs, then finally ended up performing in a night club with a singer.

As you might guess, this did not fit his parents' expectations.

Big brother, Arthur, a.k.a., the "good son," fit the family mold perfectly. He gave numerous piano concerts and recitals, then taught at the well-respected Cleveland Institute of Music and went on to become head of the piano department.

Perhaps it's not surprising that Arthur considered his younger brother the black sheep of the family. He dismissed Frank's remarkable achievements as "lowbrow" music, hardly worthy of being called "music." Apparently he never wavered from that view.

That left Frank Loesser, famous and beloved for years by performers and audiences all over America, feeling he never measured up to his family's standards.

There's a caution here for all of us

We may not go to the same extremes, but we easily fall into the same trap.

All it takes is forming a mental picture of what our spouse, our child or anyone else in our world should be.

The better way is to look for and applaud the individual's God-given strengths and talents and allow them to be who they are. It's good to remind ourselves that God creates each of us one-of-a-kind--and isn't that a wonderful thing? It's as the psalmist said in Psalm 139:14.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.   -- NIV

We deny the truth of that verse when we conclude--and hint or say outright--that a person isn't making it because he or she doesn't live up to our expectations. 

This quietly eats away at relationships, whether it's husband and wife, parent-child, co-workers or neighbors. 

Sometimes we do the same thing to ourselves

Count me in on that. I have a long list of "shoulds" for myself. Most are self-inflicted, but some were imposed by others. 

Or I thought they were.

Some have nothing to do with who I am or what I could actually do. Like many people, this never prevents me from raking myself over the coals of guilt for all the ways I "fail."

So I have a couple of questions for you: Do you know any "fish" that find themselves being expected to climb trees? Do you ever get caught in this trap?

Albert Einstein wants to know.

Still learning,

Lenore

 

In praise of all the "little people"who make the world a better place

Have you ever known someone who never seemed to rate much attention even though they deserved it?

I heard about a woman like that, let's call her Martha. She lived in a tiny town far away from any city of size and belonged to a very small church that struggled to stay alive.  

Martha never taught Sunday School or Bible class. She never sang in the choir. When asked, she offered her standard reply: "Thanks for asking me, but when the good Lord was passing out gifts, he passed right over me. Believe me, you don't want me to try teaching! And ask anyone who sits next to me in church, I can't carry a tune. I'm a follower, not a leader and I like it that way."  

She never missed a worship service or a church event and at potlucks, people gobbled up her tasty dishes. Yet Martha would be out in the kitchen, washing dishes and wiping counters and sweeping the floor.   

That's probably why people knew her face, but couldn't remember her name.

Hardly anyone noticed when Martha moved away

A few weeks later the grumbling started. The Sunday "coffee guy" said, "This place is falling apart! I came to put the coffee on, like always, and there's no coffee to put in the coffeemaker. Whose job is it to buy the extra supplies?" 

A flustered woman said, "We have an urgent need and I can't find any toilet paper or paper towels in the supply cabinet! This never happened before."

One of those who overheard said, "And whoever is supposed to sweep the sidewalks is falling down on the job! What's going on around here?"

You're way ahead of me, aren't you?

Martha, the I-have-no-gifts-or-talents lady, always took care of those things. Quietly, on her own.

She lived close to the church, which allowed her to do her work at times when the pastor would be studying in his office. Hardly anyone ever noticed. When he heard the complaints he made it known how this quiet woman faithfully ministered to everyone else--not for applause, but out of love.

Perhaps you're a little--or a lot--like Martha. You go around blessing the people around you and never look for praise.

Maybe you think you have no "place"--or if you do, it's way at the bottom of the pecking order 

If that's where you are, here's a short poem for all of us, no matter what we do each day:

YOUR PLACE

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!--

He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!

He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is

Not yours alone, but His

Who set you there.

--John Oxenham            

Whatever we do, wherever we are in life, it's not by chance

We all feel like "little people" from time to time. That doesn't matter unless we brood over it and think we should receive more recognition. What our Lord thinks of us is what matters because he knows our hearts and our motives.

Here's a much-loved Bible verse to hang onto in every situation:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

--Jeremiah 29:11-12           

Still growing,

Lenore