I write often about the movement of Providence. She is tied to Goethe’s dreams, but she is not Goethe. Each time I write of Providence, I can’t remember the quote that stands behind my words. They are the words of Scottish expeditionist, W. H. Murray.
So I don’t forget:
But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!– W. H. Murray, from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (1951)
The Goethe couplet Murray refers to is from a loose translation of Faust 214-30 made by John Anster in 1835. Anster translating Faust written by Goethe and quoted by Murray (reference at The Goethe Society of North America). Like I learned from my art professors at MCAD, there are no original thoughts.
Murray was a writer of many works of fiction and non-fiction. Mountaineering in Scotland was written on toilet paper and destroyed in a WW II prisoner of war camp. He started from scratch and rewrote the whole book again. It was published in 1947.
Providence moved too.
-posted on red Ravine, Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptW. H. Murray – Providence Moves Too November 21, 2007 by QuoinMonkey I write often about the movement of Providence. She is tied to Goethe’s dreams, but she is not Goethe. Each time I write of Providence, I can’t remember the quote that stands behind my words. They are the words of Scottish expeditionist, W. H. Murray. So I don’t forget: But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ru […]
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[…] Jack Yan on Vox – Vox wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptW. H. Murray – Providence Moves Too November 21, 2007 by QuoinMonkey I write often about the movement of Providence. She is tied to Goethe’s dreams, but she is not Goethe. Each time I write of Providence, I can’t remember the quote that stands behind my words. They are the words of Scottish expeditionist, W. H. Murray. So I don’t forget: But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ru […]
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[…] Lali added an interesting post on W. H. Murray – Providence Moves TooHere’s a small excerpt […]
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[…] Lali put an intriguing blog post on W. H. Murray – Providence Moves TooHere’s a quick excerpt […]
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[…] Kaizenlog placed an observative post today on W. H. Murray – Providence Moves TooHere’s a quick excerpt […]
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Wow, QM! The scrawlers have renamed you Lali, Kaizenlog, and my favorite, Jack Yan on Vox! What is it about W.H. Murray and Providence that caused that onslaught?
But scrawlers aside, the quote is powerful. So profound. It made me wonder, and perhaps you, too, how one commits to writing. Is it through daily practice? A schedule? Finding a writing pal and jointly commiting to a project?
What are your thoughts?
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Oh, I liked this. Just starting something has a power to it.
What an empowering thought!
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As I sit today at a crossroads, I can feel indecision draining my energy away. With a choice, I know I will move toward strength and purpose. Suddenly, the world will rise up to meet me.
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ybonesy, the scrawlers are insane these days. I’ve seen several blog posts on them from other annoyed bloggers, none of them favorable. Isn’t it sad that comments 1-5 are masterful rip-off machines? But, I’ve got to admit, the creative names come straight from SPAM. I don’t know why they like the Murray quote.
About the writing practice, I think it’s an individual thing. Every writer has to find what works for them. For me, it’s changed over time. I still do writing practice. But some of my practices around writing have become more complicated as I’ve begun to write my book.
In a nutshell, I do what works – whatever gets me to the table to write. I do find that having a few writing pals, a writing group, a writing blog, or some writing friends I can be accountable to, helps me to keep going. My practice is not perfect. But I do keep the pen moving.
What about you? What’s your practice these days?
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amuirin, it’s so powerful to set an intention. Make a heartfelt and mental commitment. And see what shows up to support it. I totally believe in the power of intention. You know what’s been hard for me is the follow through. After all these amazing things show up to support my dreams – how do I follow through to the end? It takes discipline and practice. Dedication, time, work, and believing in myself. I don’t find it easy. But if I get out of my own way – YEA! Providence really moves.
Like Sinclair says, the world rises up to meet you. Sinclair, I find, too, that indecision is draining. Indecision is usually fear of making a wrong decision. Practice helps me with it. And understanding the pros and cons of each option. But, in the end, it’s simply the jump into unknown waters. Crossroads are powerful places of transformation. Very uncomfortable.
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[…] -related to post, W. H. Murray – Providence Moves, Too […]
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[…] kind of like those few lines from Natalie about the angels cheering her on. Or the way W. H. Murray and Goethe write of Providence. Or these lines in scratchy block print from the first few pages of my journal, penned by Henry […]
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[…] I thought I’d continue to use the mandalas to talk about color. Some time ago, when I was researching information on Providence, I ran into Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Theory of Colours (original German title, Zur […]
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[…] -related to posts: haiku 2 (one-a-day), Coloring Mandalas, W. H. Murray – Providence Moves Too […]
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[…] Providence conspired in our favor. Liz’s “parking angels” were in full swing when we drove into the only spot left in the jammed lot next to the band shell. The wind shifted and ferocious bundles of black storm clouds heading straight for us diverted west. We opened our portable lawn chairs, slipped a few flowers in our hair, and rocked out to Santana, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young, Canned Heat, and Jimi Hendrix. […]
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committing yourself will not necessarily bring desired results. most of the time it won’t and will make matters worse.
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dittar, I guess that’s possible. Maybe the trick is knowing when to commit, and when to walk away. With a practice, I try to commit for a certain time period, no matter what. With relationships, it’s always a little more complicated.
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it would be great if the murray quote actually worked in real life.
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tim, I like to think it does….at least some of the time. If we just begin. Rarely takes me where I think I want to go, but gets me where I probably need to be.
Like the Rolling Stones — “you can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.”
I do think there is a lot of magic in the world. Hidden in plain sight.
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negative QuoinMonkey. you can’t get what you want 99% of the time and often you don’t even get what you need. i’ve gone without what i need for so long never mind what i want. i’ve had to stop needing the things i need in order to carry on. this quote is pure BS. and no, it’s not just me. it’s not because of my “attitude” or any of that nonsense.
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One poster makes the comment that he wishes this quote worked in real life. 12 or 13 years ago, I was given this quote, in the version attributed to Goethe, at a place in my life where taking the first step was a hard thing to do. Though it does work in a magical way, through the years of that journey from then to now, I have had some amazing resources come my way, not in a daily event so you get used to it and take it for granted way, but in a way stop that refreshes and/or helps you make the next step kind of way. I mean, this quote is about a journey. Journeys do include effort and experince. Too often we don’t see providence in the experiences that teach insights that lead us on, in the small touches of strangers, in so many ways that do’t match our expectations but make the next steps in the journey that much easier, that much more meaningful. i am a better writer, stronger person for the places where answers weren’t just handed to me. Providence, however you want to define it, offers help for the journey without taking the journey away from you.
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Linda, thanks for stopping by, and for leaving your take on Providence and your thoughts about the journey. Process. What it takes to move from here to there, still respecting ourselves and others. One of my teachers would call it Great Effort. For me, it’s mostly being willing to show up, to allow for an opening, to see what comes. I don’t always love the journey, but I sure value the process. And the help along the way, in whatever form it takes — I can’t imagine the journey without it. Thanks again for your words.
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