Hits Close to Home

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to
do, chapels had been churches and poor men's
cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that
follows his own instructions: I can easier teach
twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the
twenty to follow mine own teaching.
- William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)

The Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Scene 2


You ever come across a quote that just hits you right in the heart? This one does so for me. I spend so much of my time learning and gaining knowledge--whether it be purely intellectual, spiritual or whatever. I enjoy gleaning insights from others and recognizing the proper approach to things. I then relish the opportunity to turn around and share knowledge and insights with my children, or anyone with whom I become engaged in philosophical or theoretical discussions. You know, telling the kids about the things they ought to be doing or mentioning to others some incredible insights gained from the scriptures or social commentary du jour.

Then I turn around and remember that though I have compiled so much knowledge regarding how things ought to be done and the proper way to live life, I am far too inconsistent in the application in my own life. I had an email conversation with my sister, Sandra, a few years ago that was a bit along the lines of this subject, and I concluded that the macro aspect of life is flowing along fairly well. I get in trouble with the micro aspects of life. I believe I have an understanding of where I want to go and the framework of how to get there. And, more or less, I am headed in that general direction, but some days are better than others--which is precisely the frustrating piece.

As Shakespeare notes, it's a straightforward process to instruct others on what is good to be done, but the actual doing is not so straightforward. I think in the common vernacular we say someone can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk.

Well, that's it. How are we all doing walking the walk? I certainly must improve. An approach I've been trying recently is to focus on one very specific area for improvement each day. That helps me to not feel overwhelmed with all my foibles at once, but allows me to seek to manage in palatable chunks. I've been very pleased with the results some days, but on days where I blow it, it's all the more devastating! Well, the only course is to keep working at it, eh?

Once again, Shakespeare hits pretty close to home.