The popular Hollywood film, "Good Will Hunting" is best known for being the vehicle that made Matt Damon and Ben Affleck famous. But even more interesting is the fact that their script is based on a true story taken from the life of George Dantzig, a renowned mathematician and the father of linear programming. When Dantzig was still a doctoral student at UCLA, he arrived late to statistics class one day and noticed two problems written on the chalkboard. Assuming they were a homework assignment, he solved the problems and turned them in at the next class. Late that night, his professor came knocking on Dantzig's dorm room door, shouting, "How did you do it?" "Do what?" replied the dumbfounded student.
"You have solved two classically unsolvable mathematic equations!" said the teacher, waving the pages in his hand. "Oh, really? Dantzig replied, "I just thought they were homework."
You and I may not be mathematical geniuses, but I can't help but wonder: What amazing thing(s) could we create if we didn't know it was "impossible" to do so? Hmm...
DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE
I also find myself thinking about this question in connection with my good friend, David "Hambone" Hendley, who will be performing a concert at our house next Friday night. Hambone is one of the most amazing, down-to-earth people I've ever met, with a "can do attitude" that has enabled him to do a number of "impossible" things in his life.
He was my best friend at Trinity University, where we bonded over our mutual interests in psychology, pottery and playing guitar. He went on to get his MFA in ceramics, and became a professional potter who set up shop deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, miles from the nearest city, determined to make a living on his own terms. He had - and has - a strong DIY work ethic, and an extraordinary ability to tackle new endeavors. Despite having no previous building experience, he and his wife, Karen, bought a large tract of heavily forested land, and set out to build a homestead where they could raise their two children. Over the course of five years of steady, arduous labor, David converted a dilapidated farmhouse into a home and studio, then built a huge wood-fired kiln, and a magnificent, two-story "cabin" in which each window, door and drawer pull is a work of art.
MIXING IT UP
Meanwhile, not satisfied with using commercial glazes, he created his own. Then, unable to create the kind of pottery he envisioned with existing technology, he came up with ways to use an extruder that no one else had thought of, becoming a nationally recognized ceramic artist in the process, capable of getting folks to drive many miles out of their way to buy his pots.
He always maintained his love for playing and writing music, and in recent years, took up playing ukulele with the same passion and "can-do" attitude which he has brought to all of his endeavors. He also created the character of Hambone, with a bone-dry, clear-eyed wit and wisdom, and an ear for a catchy melody.
In short, he's one of my real-life heroes. Zet and I are delighted to be hosting a house concert and release party for his brand new CD. Tickets at CelebrationCircle.org. It's going to be a lot of fun making music with him, but more than that, he's got me thinking about what "impossible" things I could do... and looking forward to the possibilities.
With joy,
Rudi
THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.
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