MEANINGFUL REPETITION LEADS TO MASTERY

A sweet old lady forgets to turn off the water in the bathtub, which when she returns to the bathroom is running over on the floor. Not knowing what to do, she rushes to the phone and calls the plumber and is informed he will be right out.

A few minutes later she looks at her list of things to do and realizes she is supposed to go grocery shopping that morning. She immediately grabs her keys and drives to the store.

The plumber shortly arrives and knocks at the door and the sweet old lady’s parrot responds in its best parrot voice, “Who is it?” The plumber responds, “It’s the plumber!”

The parrot responds, “Who is it.” Louder the plumber responds, “It’s the plumber!!”

The parrot responds, “Who is it?” Now shouting the plumber yells, “IT’S THE PLUMBER!!”

The parrot responds, “Who is it?” The plumber now exasperated and turning red in the face, fills his lungs and is about to screech with all his might when he passes out cold on the door step.

Shortly thereafter the sweet old lady returns and seeing the plumber out cold on the step and says, “Who is it?” The parrot responds, “It’s the plumber!”

I can’t remember when or who first told me this joke (maybe Buddy Hackett), but I have used it numerous times during my life in talks and to remind myself that thoughts, words and actions constantly repeated become habitual.

We are constantly reminded in all areas of our lives about the disastrous results if those thoughts, words and actions are negative.

“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Besides the decay which comes to the great God-given gift of our minds, there is a great danger as we constantly think about the base behaviors of mortals, that before long these thoughts begin to be part of our vocabulary and actions. Although the final judgment has not been made, more and more data seem to indicate that predatory and violent actions are predicated on an extended exposure to deviant and destructive materials.

Vulgar and profane words repeated often enough, become lodged in our minds so firmly that our speech is soon filled with filth and it becomes almost impossible for us to engage in an intelligent conversation. It is interesting to me to listen to people who are able to moderate their speech on network television, but on cable every sentence is punctuated with garbage words.

Addictive and self-destructive behaviors do not take control of one’s life because of the first sip, but because of the ensuing gulps. There has been a lot of discussion about certain people having a greater propensity toward being controlled by stimuli. Personally, I think we are all capable of falling prey to any substance or stimulus we ingest either through our mouths, our noses, our eyes, our ears or our arms.

Luckily, this same habit forming phenomenon can be a force which will cause us to have lives filled with uplifting thoughts, words and actions.
If I carefully filter that which I allow to enter my mind, I will probably find my thoughts are becoming more elevated, and uplifting. One of the added bonuses I realize as I screen those things imputed into my mind is that I become more positive toward people, more universal in my thinking about the brotherhood of mankind, and more tolerant and forgiving in my relationships.

As I eliminate my reliance on vulgar vocal pauses in my verbiage, I find that I have less need to retract my statements and others find our conversations more engaging. One of the beautiful things that I find happening is that if I purge my words of the vulgar and profane, those with whom I am conversing soon seem to respond in kind.

Although repentance has become somewhat of a negative term in our politically correct society, I have found that quick and complete repentance is the greatest safeguard against yielding my agency to some substance or other addictive stimulus. I also firmly believe that repeated positive actions lead to character development and a more fulfilled life. Prayer becomes easier and more sincere as we become dedicated to frequently repeating the process. Scripture reading, searching and pondering results in astounding benefits as it is daily adhered too. Service fills the soul and enlarges our capacities as we frequently seek opportunities to help a brother or sister. Career and church calling success results from regular productive work in our appointed stewardship.

Successful golfers become so because they have repeated the correct movements of the fundamentals of their swing until their minds, nerves, muscles and joints have developed the memory sufficient to repeat the same swing time after time regardless of the conditions and stresses where it is to be used. If the golfer repeats unsound techniques they will never be able to have repetitious desired successful results. Although it may be true that as the mind, nerves, muscles and joints begin to deteriorate the once ingrained movements are modified and in some cases lost; nevertheless, there are moments when all seems to be restored in a blissful moment and we witness a ball flying long, straight and true.

I have confidence that all those attributes and characteristics we have developed into our souls memory will be restored to the eternal us. May we be wise and strive to form that being which emulates Godliness and not devilishness.