Earlier this summer I read a delightful book of reflections by Desmond Carroll, an Anglican priest (Irish by birth) in Canada's Arctic. The book also contains original painting-illustrations by Ted Harrison, a renowned Canadian artist. I'd like to share just a few of Carroll's words of wisdom:
"Ah-ha!"
"All the world's a stage" - according to one of Shakespeare's characters, and the players thereon represent all sorts and conditions of men and women. Let's imagine that there are three types of players who walk upon the stage and interpret life in a general sense.
The first type could be called the 'yeah-buts', those who generally respond to ideas and proposals with a cautious 'putting-on-the-brakes' routine. "That's not a bad idea, but ..." is a frequent response.
The second type could be called the 'ho-hums', those who ponder at great length the issues of the day, weigh all things in the balance, and find it difficult to come to a decision. They can be persuaded to adopt a position, but often need applied pressure to reach a conclusion.
The last type could be called the 'ah-has', those who embrace life with enthusiasm and express delighted surprise as life unfolds before them. They always seem poised to jump and engage the issues of life with a hopeful expression on their faces, reaching out towards the vision.
Can we try to be 'ah-ha's'?
Carroll, Northern Reflections (p. 77)
For what it's worth, I love the sentiment that Carroll expresses, but also think he fundamentally mischaracterizes both the yeah-buts and the ah-has. The 'ah-ha' approach, if undirected by wisdom and prudence, can lead to jumping off bridges into shallow waters and being shattered upon submerged rocks. The 'yeah-but' approach, if combined with a true excitement about the possibilities of life, can lead to rigorously analyzing ideas and proposals in order to arrive at a workable and exhilarating outcome. Where I can fully agree with Carroll is being suspicious of the 'ho-hums'.
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