HUMAN ENGINE

Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.  LEONARDO da VINCI

The wind chill factor plummeted the air temperature to an icy 40 degrees below zero on Monday in Chicago.  As far as I remember, when I walked to the theater and back, I was exposed to the lowest temperatures I've ever experienced.  The local meteorologists have attributed this weather to a "Polar Vortex" which blanketed much of the Midwest, and is heading northeast.  

Cold came earlier this year than the 4 winters since our move from the west coast.  I determined late last year that 20 degrees was my personal threshold when it came to riding my bike to work.  Below 20 degrees, regardless of glove and sock layering, my immobile fingers and toes inevitably feel the freeze before the 8 mile journey is up.  It's been a month since I've been on the bike, and at negative 40, I imagine we've reached the frozen peak.

Again and again we've explored the invaluable lessons and wonders of nature.  At times we feel powerless as victims of natural circumstance.  Fortunately we have the luxury of air conditioning in the hot months, fireplaces, and heating systems in the cold ones.  We dress down in Summer, and bundle up in winter.  Some question my tolerance of cold, wondering how I can stand riding in such low temperatures and wind.   Some of the same people wonder how I might think or act outside of popular opinion and action.  

They're really one in the same. 

The overwhelming majority prefer to think and act within "the limits" to which they are confined.  Ordering from a menu of set dining options, as if it were impossible to incorporate other ingredients plainly visible on the menu.  Choosing television programs, movies, and books from the new release section, when countless classic stories and photo-plays are readily available at your fingertips.  It's almost like a race to see who can achieve ultimate parody, who can see all the movies everyone says they should see, read all the fiction everyone has recommended, and watch all the same shows as everyone they have regular contact with.  

As is frequently the case in our society, that which is most easily accessible, is rarely the best available.  Most prefer  directions in navigation rather than exploration of the world around them.  Most would rather take cues from society than contribute their own discoveries and sense of self.  They would rather avoid nature than be immersed in it.

I was cued to write this in the face of so much puzzlement over my willingness to ride in sub-freezing temperatures at the end of the year.  While I am far from a fitness guru or professional athlete, it's obvious that physical action generates heat and energy to a body in motion.  To a large extent, we need not rely exclusively on outside forces to keep warm in cold surroundings.  Each of us is a self-sustaining power plant of flesh and blood.

Each of us is a living, breathing, "Human Engine". 

Not only do we possess a miraculous physical form in our body, but also an infinitely powerful heart-based emotional force, and equally powerful mind-based intellectual capacity.  Though physical results are only externally visible with the body, the same effort and exercise is required of the heart and mind to build strength in both.  Conformity and imitation build nothing, and generally promote weakness.  Staying "in-line", doing as others do, make you more of a part, than a whole.  

We each face countless decisions in our lives, and have access to an infinite number of choices.  7+ billion independent human engines on this planet, all of free thought, most of free will . .  

Why strive to be anything other than ONE in 7,000,000,000?       

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.  ALBERT CAMUS