In life, as with this marble sculpture, one has to take risks and I will always remember the commitment that was required in carving this block of marble.
This piece, created in the name of one of my dear departed friends, required an inordinate amount of commitment with each strike of the hammer, especially the rough base from which the work emerges.
I would like to share with you a quote that has served me well as I carved this marble and that has influenced my life since the day I first read it.
It was at University and my existentialism professor, Fred, was someone that I would visit from time to time and with whom I had great conversations concerning life.
One day, confronted with one of those huge decisions that would change your life forevermore, I went to his office, hoping that something he might say would trigger something in my brain and I would magically know what to do.
To my horror, the door was closed, but there was a paper taped to the door and this is what it read:
Commitment
Until one is committed there is hesitance, 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.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
I have 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.N. Murray – The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, 1951
Thank you Fred, Murray and Goethe!
You have served me well!
And thanks to John Layton for the wonderful advice but more than anything else; for caring.
By Boky