What’s your source?

I was thinking about what kind of thinker I am, as well as the kind I am not.  All that thinking made me think about the source of my intelligence. 

The setting was a book signing.  People often stop and take a cursory look at my book.  Sometimes we chat.  I’ve heard the usual excuses aka objections.  “I’ll be back.”  “Let me think about it.”  “Oh, I have so many books.” 

You’d think after 4+ decades in the sales profession I would be good at overcoming objections.  Truth is, at $15 a copy, I’m not interested in convincing the unwilling.  They don’t need an excuse not to buy my book.  It’s OK.  It’s just a book.

This time, a woman caused me to think.  She asked, “What’s the source of your peace and power?”  I knew it was a leading question.  I knew she wanted me to say “God” or “Jesus”.  When I didn’t immediately respond with the right answer, she told me she didn’t need my book because her source was God.

She caught me off guard.  I hadn’t fielded that particular question at a book signing before.  She was impatient for my answer.  Yes, I feel the Lord guiding me throughout my life but He is not the only source of my peace and power.  That’s what I was thinking about when she walked away. 

You see, I’m a contemplative thinker.  I’m not a quick-on-your-feet thinker.  Which led me to think about the connection between thinking and intelligence and the source of my intelligence.  As I looked into it further I found there is “Crystallized Intelligence” and “Fluid Intelligence”.  Among many definitions, these resonated with me: 

Fluid Intelligence    

Ability to think quickly and adapt to new situations without relying on prior knowledge

Crystallized Intelligence 

Knowledge and skills accumulated over time and comes from experience and practice

If I were fluid I would have responded to her quickly about my perpetual optimism perhaps with this quote: 

For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else. 

Winston Churchill

If I had crystallized intelligence, I would have said that my life’s trials and tribulations accumulated over time have crystallized my practice of believing both in the peace and the power of a positive perspective as well as in God.  Or, if I was a quick-on-your feet thinker, I could have just opened my book to the last quote on page 313 to answer her question: 

Thank you Lord. I may never have a lot; but I have always had enough. 

Gary A. Pokorn 

If she was a contemplative thinker, she might have stopped to read the introduction: 

This chapter is dedicated to you – the reader; and to the great memories that might have come to your mind when you read these quotes and short stories.  To a smile I hope you felt on your face, in your mind, and from your heart.  And to your ability to face daily stress and all that can be bad in our world with the steadfast peace and tremendous power that can be attained by maintaining a positive attitude. 

Everyone may not be able to do this for a living - but each of us has the personal choice and the absolute ability to do this for our life. 

What’s your source?

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.