Jack Of All Trades

I saw this quote hanging on the wall.

It’s by science fiction writer, Robert Anson Heinlein.

“A human being should be able to:

Change a diaper

Plan an invasion

Butcher a hog

Conn [control] a ship

Design a building

Write a sonnet

Balance account

Build a wall

Set a bone

Comfort the dying

Take orders

Give orders

Cooperate

Act alone

Solve equations

Analyze a new problem

Pitch manure

Program a computer

Cook a tasty meal

Fight efficiently

Die Gallantly

Specialization is for insects.”

It’s sort of fascinating all the things that are expected of people to be able to do.

And this is a short list — I’m sure you can think of many, many more things that people have to be able to do to survive, to live, to thrive.

What complex and magnificent creations of G-d we are!

Not only in terms of our physiology, but also in terms of our cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual capacities and desires.

We are flesh and blood, but with a breath of life from the living G-d, and we are capable and can do so much.

At the same time, we are imperfect, limited, fallible, and mortal.

- Jack of all trades, and master of none.

Expect the best, but plan for plenty of mistakes and disasters along the way.

Live well, and return to the creator a better person. ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)