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Along Life’s Way… Doing Nothing?
By Lois E. Wilson
There are no appointments. The household chores can wait. We long for
days when we have nothing to do. We think we’ll be free to relax and
enjoy them on our terms. When one of them finally arrives, the clock
ticks off the minutes. Time seems to be passing slower than it should.
You soon become bored and search your mind trying to think of something
to occupy your time. ”You do not know from nothing” an activity that
fits your goals. The TV shows are reruns. You have no new books to
read. The last few you read made you realize that some books have
nothing in them—maybe the authors just like seeing their names in
print. What can you do until it’s time to fix dinner?
You think Shakespeare was right; this is “much ado about nothing.” You
chide yourself, “I can’t do nothing with skill.” My computer grammar
check suggested that I change the word “nothing” in the above quote to
“anything.” This word substitution has happened at times in Scriptures
from newer Bible versions. The change completely gives a new unintended
meaning: “I can’t do anything with skill.” I reject that change!
The Lord in Genesis 11:6 when he sees the city and tower being built
says, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to
do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”
(TNIV) He then challenges them by confusing their language and
scattering them from Babel over the earth. Jeremiah 10:24 (AV) prays:
“O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou
bring me to nothing.”
I don’t want to be brought down to nothing. Being sheltered at home
during the COVID-19 crisis, I sought to be productive and remembered an
old quote: “Nothing ventured; nothing gained.” It is attributed to
Chaucer and is dated 1374. It was the inspiration for this column.
Others have written songs about nothing—why not a column? I chose to
refuse spending a day doing idle things which in the long run would
amount to no gain. I have concluded that if someone asks me the
question, “Doing nothing?” I’ll emphatically answer, “Nothing
doing!”
Lewis Carroll penned this exchange: “Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice…”
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
I’m glad I shrugged off my boredom and opted for writing about nothing.
I learned knowledge about the word and about myself. “Nothing” is not
all it cracked up to be; it is greatly overrated. The important lesson
for me was accepting the fact that I do not do “nothing” well. I’m
enlightened and not yearning for those days with all the free time. My
to-do list is growing and I’ll trade being busy for being bored any
day. I have nothing more to say on the topic—I’m too busy!
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