A Small Nugget of Wisdom by Darrel Sparkman

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Nuggets of wisdom aren’t always found in famous writings, or by super famous authors.

So let's pose a question.

Is there a difference between your philosophy and your position in life? Does it change with the situation? When the wind is blowing hard one direction, do you pop your sails and go with it or stay the course. It’s the old conundrum—I want to do X but end up doing Y. Not to wax philosophic, but it’s a question that affects author and reader alike.

For the writer it’s the question of staying with the outline of a story or letting the characters go a different way. For some of us that tangent direction is often too compelling to ignore.

It’s different for the reader. Are you being bandied about with no clear path forward? Need to tack sideways? Big questions.

When it looks like you’re going to have to fight like that proverbial third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s ark, which truth will come out? How will your ending be written? Will your philosophy hold true or will circumstances (position) change it?

One of the best sequences of dialogue addressing this comes from Richard Jessup’s novel CHUKA, published in 1961. The hero is surrounded by an enemy that’s overwhelming and mad dog crazy. Is there a chance? Can he save himself, or more importantly, can he save the girl? You might consider CHUKA a romance novel because the hero sees the girl he wants and fights for her with everything he has—like that third monkey.

***

In the book, on the eve of a hopeless battle, a Spanish Duenna was verbally eviscerating the gunfighter about his choices in life. She asked if he had a philosophy. He’s a bit startled. And yes, there will be some paraphrasing.

Chuka tells her there is a difference between his philosophy and his position. Naturally she is skeptical. After all, her job is to protect the young woman in her charge—especially from a common man who hires out his gun.

The gunfighter continues, “A man lives in a country, a place and a time. To live, a man has to be settled on the way he wants to live.”

“Guided by certain principles.” She said.

“Those rules in life, or principles as you call them are simple. Truth comes first. Second comes honor. The third, but by no means less important than the others, is courage.”

Chuka held up his hand to stop her interruption.

“Now my position. My position is to walk with truth, hold on to my honor and find courage to help me over the rough spots.”

She seemed amazed. “Have you found it hard to hold this position?”

“It’s hard to hold it even for a little while. Why? Because we don’t always want to tell the truth, especially when it hurts us or someone we care for.

“And we can’t always hold on to our honor or we’d find ourselves fighting all the time.

“Courage is the hardest of them all. Most times when we find courage it can be too late or too little.

“It takes courage to face truth and courage to recognize your honor is not another man’s honor. One man’s truth, or honor, or courage isn’t a test for anyone else.”

***
   

How often does that happen in life? It’s easy when we’re writing it. We can always go back and edit in the best decision for a certain situation. It's the infamous re-write. You look at the draft copy and say, “Well, that didn’t go as expected.” And then go back and fix it.

But, often in real life we see the right choice going away in the rear-view mirror. Hesitation becomes the dance of the day and the choice we want… slips away.

So, maybe the best lesson is in the less quoted line. “Be settled in the way you wish to live." If you have a position, know exactly what it is and why. If you say you believe in something, can you tell someone why? Otherwise, we’re lost.

Know what you want. Know what you’re willing to do for it. Be settled in it.
​
Let’s write that story line into our lives.



In the story THE LAST WARRANT Luke Randall knows what he wants--a small horse ranch west of Springfield Missouri. It's there waiting for him. All he needs is a reason to give up the Marshal's service and go. Sarah gives him a reason and then takes their position in her own hands.  And yes, toward their goal.

Available October 9, 2018



Have a blessed day.

Darrel






                                                                     

Darrel Sparkman

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