Life as a Rubik’s Cube

This blog post was inspired by talking to a friend of mine.

Everyone knows what a Rubik's Cube is. You, know the puzzle that you have to try to solve by getting all the colors on the same side. Some people have dedicated their lives to solving them. Others have become professional cubists. Still others spend years just trying to solve one side (like me). But the interesting thing is that the Cube is an allegory for life.

In talking to one of my friends, who claims she knows how to solve the cube, she explained that in order to tackle the cube, you have to tackle each individual side, and not the puzzle as a whole. Once, you complete the one side, then move on to the next, and so forth. Morevover, each individual side is solved by solving each individual column. Bottom line, Rubik's Cube is a puzzle that is solved by a series of algorithms and statistical probability.

But, I began to think, how true to life the Cube is as well. Life in general has different stages, representative of the sides of the cube. One cannot move on to the next stage of life (next side of the cube), without completing the current stage. Like life, the cube can be viewed from many different angles and each and everytime, especially when a different move or course of action is taken, it will look differently than before. Like the cubist who is trying to solve the cube is constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the next move, so too in life, we are constantly making decisions and choices that impact that stage of life we are currently living.

As in life, the each individial square in the cube represents our own challenges and obstacles. Make the wrong move, and the whole puzzle can become undone (albeit, it can be corrected). Make the right one and the puzzle becomes easier to complete.

The movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, uses the Rubik's Cube as a metaphor to life as well. When Will Smith's character solves the cube, he not only impresses his future employer into giving him the job that transformed his life, but also overcame an obstacle thought to be impossible. However, with a little determination and perseverace, he overcame doubt, struggle and increased his self-worth. So too must we over come life's Rubik's cube, and persevere over all those obstacles in our lives that are thought to be impossible. From loss of a job, to heart-break, to loss of a family member, life continues forward, as so do we. What is important in this life, the life that we have, is that we overcome and persevere over the obstacles put forth in our paths so that we can shine and become the best people we can be. Like in the cube, there are moments that will thwart our forward progress, but we may be able to find another move, or take a step back so that we may then be able to move forward.

May we all continue Life's journey, life's puzzle, life's enigma, filled with blessings and the strength and inspiration to overcome the obstacles before us and solve this wonderful cube we call life.

Full of Wisdom

Disclaimer: These blogs are all original works are resulting from of inspiration, many years of study, contemplation and personal reflection, prayer, life experiences, and encounters with others (be they personal or professional encounters). Please feel free to use the material as needed, but give credit accordingly. Who knows when or where these works might turn out. Plagiarism is a true crime. Also feel free to let me know what you think and how I am doing. Thanks. Full of Wisdom.

Finding Our Way

I began to think and pray as to how we find our way in life. Funny, really is that many times its not us that choose our way, but God who opens new doors, especially when we least expect them. Nevertheless, we also have to make a conscious choice to follow that path and walk through the open doors instead of trying to open our own doors; many times the path is staring at us straight in the face, and we choose not to acknowlege it. Perhaps the path is shown in someone we encounter, a circumstance of life, a drastic moment or just a suddle instance in our daily living.

Many times, the path we must take is the simplest. Many times its the obvious. Sometimes its the one that we've been denying. Often times, its the one that challenges us the most. There's no denying that whatever path we choose, whichever direction we take, will be filled with obstacles or hurdles. However, it is true to say that those paths that are truly supposed to be taken & walked by each and everyone of us are the most rewarding no matter how many hurdles or obstacles are in our way.

In the Movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance, we see such a discovery of the journey. Toward the middle of the movie, there is a dialogue that takes place between the character Bagger Vance (Will Smith) and Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) in which Bagger Vance tries to help Junuh discover his swing. This dialogue is indicative of the journey or way that awaits each and everyone of us:"Look at his practice swing, almost like he's searching for something...feel that focus. Now, he's got a lot of shots he could choose from...but there's only one shot that's in perfect harmony with the field; one shot thats his, authentic shot; and that shot is going to choose him. There's a perfect shot out there trying to find each and everyone of us. All we've got to do is get ourselves out of the way; let it choose us....You have to look with soft eyes. See the place were the tides and seasons, the turning of the earth, all come together; where everything that is becomes one. You've got to seek that place with your soul...seek it with your hands, don't think about it, feel it! Your hands are wiser than your head is ever going to be. Now I can't take you there...just hope I can help you find a way."

This is the journey of life. There is a force that is guiding us. Some call that force God. Others call it fate. However, finding that right "swing", that balance, is one that needs to make the journey from the head to the heart and to the hands. In otherwords, we know what needs to happen, but we need to love and own it in order to make it a reality. Thus the journey begins in the head (knowledge), travels to the heart (love/ownership) and is manifested in the hands (making real/transformation).Once we embark on the journey, once we seek our path, there are moments of doubt, fear and wanting to give up. However, its in those moments of our journey that we discover that we're not walking that journey alone. Again, in The Legend of Bagger Vance, just before the end of the movie, we encouter another dialogue between Bagger Vance (Will Smith) and Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) in which, Junuh is self-doubting and wants to give up while on his journey: "I can't do this....You've got a choice, you can stop or you can start. Start? Walking! Where? Right back to where you've always been and then staying there still, real still and remember. Its too long ago. Oh no sir, it was just a moment ago. Time for you to come out of the shadows...time for you to choose. I can't. Yes, you can, but, you ain't alone, I'm right here with you; I've been here all along! Now play the game, your game, the one that only you were meant to play; the one that was given to you when you came into this world. You ready? Now take your stace. Strike that ball...don't hold nothing back; give it everything!...now is the time! "

Like the poem, Footprints, we see in The Legend of Bagger Vance, that we are not alone. That God is always there with us no matter how hard the path seems, no matter how difficult the journey. But He is always also there to remind us to take the opportunity and run with it. Its not by mere accident that we embark on the journey, but while we're on it, we need to make the most of it.In our lifetimes, few journeys will come that will be defining ones. However, we don't embark on finding our way by ourselves. Perhaps the journey we embark upon is the one that leads us to true love, happiness or prosperity. Yet, it is also one of self-discovery, challenge and daily commitment. As the movie states. we have a bunch of "shots" we can choose from, but the right one will always choose us. We just have to seize the opportunity once it chooses us.

Full of Wisdom

Disclaimer: These blogs are all original works are resulting from of inspiration, many years of study, contemplation and personal reflection, prayer, life experiences, and encounters with others (be they personal or professional encounters). Please feel free to use the material as needed, but give credit accordingly. Who knows when or where these works might turn out. Plagiarism is a true crime. Also feel free to let me know what you think and how I am doing. Thanks. Full of Wisdom