Feed Your Brain, but don’t forget what’s important!
There are many ideas out there that talk about feeding the whole person. Feed your mind, body, soul, curiosity, etc. It’s obvious that we are not always balanced individuals when we focus on one area of life, and not the others. Like anyone else, I am sure I am lopsided in some of my areas. I would be a good “picker” of Americana, but I would be a bad re-seller because I hate to get rid of anything!
What I do know about myself is that I am inquisitive. I love to research. I love the back story, sometimes more than the main story, so that I think I could write forever and be happy to never publish a book. My head is full of trivial items that do me well in a game of Trivial Pursuit. My interests are very eclectic. Some have even called me a Renaissance Man.
When I set my sights on something new, I pursue with aplomb – whether learning to program, prepare for flying a plane, or building remote control airplanes. Not that I learned how to do any of these with great success, for the enjoyment came in the pursuit of learning something new.
Yes… I had some programs produce some very weird results, and I had my plane literally plummet into a spin unexpectedly, and many of my R/C airplanes crashed before they flew a minute – but the joy of the pursuit of something new was enjoyable!
This world is replete with opportunities to learn something new. Feed your curiosity. Feed your brain. Read. Research. Ask questions. Observe. Attempt.
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” ~Confucius
I love to read books where I learn something useful. Since I am a fan of history, then biographies are important right along side historical fiction. The fiction probably occurred because someone who loves the subject as much as I, took the time to research and write as factual an account as possible. James Alexander Thom is one of my favorite authors in this area. I’ve learned much of the 1700-1800’s because of his tireless research and writing.
Something in my past caused me to range far and wide in my interests, never settling on one area that I may become the expert in. But, I pray in all of important things of my life, that I keep feeding my brain with things of God. There is truly nothing more important.
Solomon asked a wise thing when he became King of Israel.
“Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10 NKJV)
God granted him his wish, and also gave him the things he did not ask for – riches, wealth, and honor; “…such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” We all know he was a wise king, who did much good during his reign. But he also went too far afield in his quest for more knowledge and wisdom. It seemed like what God had given him was not enough. He wanted more. Much more.
His summation seemed to take him back to his roots. And maybe this is where we should all consider what we feed our brain with…
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV)
God first. Keep the focus on Godly things. Let everything else find it’s proper place.