The strangest thought just rolled through my mind. “Go West, young man, Go West!” What if you are standing on the edge of a cliff, and West happens to be accomplished by leaping off? Possible? Sure. Wise… Not in the least bit smart!
So, I asked the common research question, where did this phrase come from. It first showed up in print back in 1865 by Horace Greely, an author and newspaper editor. In the context of the day, it’s at the end of the Civil War, and the nation is rebuilding and anchoring itself to the future.
“Washington is not a place to live in.
The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable.
Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.“
— attributed to Horace Greeley, New-York Daily Tribune, July 13, 1865
Just 35 years later, my Granddad would be born… That’s how close to the words I feel!
Life was so different back then! I cannot even imagine the thought, “Go West!” Yet, west I did go. From Texas, to Alaska, and now in Washington. I’ve been out to Dutch Harbor, AK – my furthest Western trip in the Northland. In the middle of the Pacific, I’ve been to Hawaii twice.
Where does “the west” end, and “the east” begin?
According to scholars and researchers, at least as reported by the Houston Public Library, “west” ends the International Date Line, and you are now in the “east” – albeit, you are still moving westward. If you are on the Asia continent, you are in the “east”! You can keep moving West and never stop.
Through The Years, Across the Miles
This morning’s thought gives me pause. I’ve heard countless advice, quotes, and wisdom sayings. More than enough to realize the conflict so easily created when you start trying to follow one over the other. Perhaps it’s wise to know the thoughts and choose what’s most important for you and your plan. You nod sagely at all the other words and keep doing your own thing.
One Aunt told me to not get married until I was 30, or more.
“It takes that long for you to mature, so don’t rush into something that might now be wise for you until you know who you are going to be.”
I know that was wise advice, and maybe someone needs to heed the words, but my bride and I were not even 20 years old when we married nearly 50 years ago. With these words in my ear, we grew into our adult years together, and I’m sure we are quite happy with our choice of younger years. Right, Sweety?
There are wise plans you can make from simple thoughts. Most of these are a few I can remember from specific voices of my past.
- Live within your means.
- Don’t keep up with the Jones’. (To all the Jones’ I know, you understand this is not talking about you!”
- Do what you enjoy and you’ll never work a day in your life. (Work should be something you enjoy…)
- Go to College, it helps you expand your horizons.
- Wear Your Seatbelt, Don’t Smoke, Don’t Drink into Excess, Wear Your Bike Helmet…safety goggles, hearing protectors, sunscreen…
- Etc., Ad Nauseum, and on and on it goes.
Too Much Advice?
It’s tiring thinking of all the wise things we either learned, or not, did, or didn’t. I keep thinking of Popeye, “I ‘yam what I ‘yam!”
At a particular time in my past, a boss wanted me to be more like him. That was his goal for all his workers. I simply said, “I want to be the best me that me knows how!” This takes the burden off your shoulders to tell me your advice on how to live.
That’s my wisest advice I’ve learned as I age. How I turn out is not your fault! I’m responsible, accountable, and will suffer the consequences or success of my own choice. I was equipped pretty well at the age of 18 to be out on my own. Though I still needed help, guidance, support, and love, all I became is my own doing. A Self-Made Man, right? Not hardly!
Always remember, someone poured into you and you became who you are. You’ve been responsible for filtering all advice by how you choose to live, but it’s not because others abdicated their role.
In Today’s Complex World
With all the “ready” mix combination of words, we can make better choices today than prior generations. But there are words I will never look at and say, “That’s not for us today!” Consider the Bible, for a moment. It’s a History book covering thousands of years of time. To my knowledge, there is no other book full of wise words that are equal to the life we live today. It is still one of the most read books on the face of this earth.
Perhaps the example I would share teaches me today and is often repeated, yet never fully caught by any of us. (John 8:1-11)
Jesus is stirring up the world with his teachings. Rabbi, he is called. Master. Teacher. No other teaches like you do! At the ending of a session, a woman caught in adultery is dragged into his presence, and thrown at his feet. Where was the man? Hmmm.. A missing part of the story! “Master! What do you say about this?” Yes, the law was clear, but how would Jesus respond?
It’s a simple question, full of history and suspense, what would you do?
Jesus stooped, and wrote with his finger in the ground at his feet. We have no clue what he was writing. Many might suppose they know, but the Bible never says. Scripture says they continued asking him. One translation uses the word “persisted asking” to describe the moment.
What would you do?
The law is on your side, and you know what it says. But how do you handle the moment? Remember. He’s God robed in flesh and there is a new covenant on the horizon. The Law will be put to rest, and a new covenant will be written on the tables of our hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3) that will put a period on the law, and open a new movement that will turn the world upside down.
What did he do?
Jesus stood and spoke, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then he stooped and continued writing on the ground.
John pens these words not found in any other Gospel:
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
(John 8:9-11 KJV)
From the oldest to the youngest, a lesson is learned. Who am I to condemn when I have my own sin to deal with? Woman? Where are your accusers? No one, she says. “Neither do I…”
Here’s My Thought Today
I grow weary of this day where we are so critical of others. We judge others by our own insights, and personal wisdom. We often fail to see we are perhaps our first and main enemy. Our hearts and motives are not pure. Wisdom from the ages is overlooked because we are caught in the emotion of the movement.
Jesus teaches that we should first remove the “beam” from our eye before we work on the “splinter” in another’s eye. (Luke 6:41-42) How can we be effective without first considering the facts and not the rhetoric? Can I control my emotional response with one like Jesus gave?
It depends on how you accept the ageless thinking and instruction we have available. Are you pliable? Can you be molded? Will you follow the teachings of Jesus?
Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5)
Well, it’s easier said than done… The older I get, the easier it is for me to acquiesce my will for His. My thoughts for his. Might as well throw in the entire tool box! Kit and kaboodle! The whole ball of wax! Okay, Jesus, help me think this thought right!