Thursday, February 21, 2008
Lincoln - Towering Genius 2
Lincoln defected from the normal and natural pattern of thinking and work. He was not happy with taking the easiest possible route to get to his ends. No Lincoln purposely tested and burned into his mind, the most difficult path to reach his ends. This way he could achieve his greatness to which he aspired. He was overlooked many times and his dream of leaving a lasting monument were dashed many times, but his lofty goal was attainable if only he were to be given the chance. Like a sculptor sees the object in the granite, Lincoln, or more importantly Lincoln's mind was being refined day by day, just as gold is purified in the fire.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lincoln - Towering Genius
Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky in 1809. This would make him a Kentuckian and would have somewhat of a bearing later in his life. He worked very hard physically, but never liked it. More of a deep thinker is what he was. In fact it might be that he had resentment towards his father because his father wanted him to do all sorts of chores when Lincoln would rather have studied.
Anyway on to the more beefy stuff. Lincoln grew up to be very tall, six feet four inches, and he had enormous hands for his size, Some say it was Marfin's (Marfan's) syndrome, but I think it was just acromegaly. He was extremely strong too. When needed he used that strength.
He liked politics very much and studied hard to become a lawyer. (Though his partner Herndon writes that he didn't think Lincoln ever read fully through a law book. He also told that Lincoln was not a technical lawyer, but rather an illustrator who would tell a story to make it clear in jurors minds that whatever side he was on would win. The story might not have any "truth" considering for whom it was told, but rather it "illustrated" the truth, thereby winning the case. Lincoln also spoke slowly and penetrated his words into the jurors minds). I do not want to make it as though Lincoln was a liar, he wasn't. He used every necessary tool in his arsenal to defend a case truthfully albeit in a roundabout way. He did this to free his or her defendant who was not guilty! If Lincoln felt his defendant was guilty, no matter how easy the case, he would lose, Again Lincoln was purely honest.
If anything can be said about Lincoln, it was that he lived hardships throughout his life. When he was nine his mother died. Then when he was in his late teens or early twenties his sister, Sarah, died. Lincoln exclaimed at this point, "Now I have no one." In 1834 or 1835 he fell in love with a unique young woman. She was fair (very beautiful) and was as sweet as she was fair; intelligent too. After a year of knowing her she died. This wrenched Lincoln mentally and I think he held onto it for twenty five years, although marrying Mary Todd definitely eased the pain greatly. (She would also cause him great pains, but that is for future writing)
On January 1st of 1841, Lincoln went into a deep depression. (He called it the "Fatal first of January"). Nothing could help him out of it. He felt as though he was the most miserable man alive. There were bad circumstances surrounding him, but I believe they did not set the depression, but rather a chemical in his brain failed to work and he was pressed down. The way he wrote at that time shows it was a Clinical Depression.
At this point I want to interject something about Lincoln that is quite unique in his character. He felt that everything was done by "Necessity." In other words, "the human mind is impelled to act or held in rest, by which the human mind has no control." Lincoln was unaware that the Almighty Father has His finger on everything! So was this deep depression, "Necessity," or a burp in Lincoln's plans or maybe something Much Higher.
Eventually Lincoln came out of it. He went to his best friends, Joshua Speed's farm, and there he took it easy (he even had a slave appointed to him) and with the great help of Speed's sister, Lincoln broke out of it. I think Lincoln did not really fully break out of it. Yes he had been able to conduct business and even led the country during its toughest time, but I think it was a learning process for him. That having something so deep and dreadful as his depression (no one can measure anyone elses depression - the Clinical kind) he forbode ever going back into the depths of that kind ever again. Though I think the Civil War brought him to those depths once more.
If anything can be said about Lincoln, it was that he felt he was a failure. In his deep depression he stated that if he were to die, there was nothing for anyone to remember him by. Lincoln was a kind person. Never hurting anyone unjustly, always kind in every manner, But he did have one thought about himself that I find a flaw. He wanted to leave a "Lasting Monument." It wasn't good enough that he was a great lawyer, that he served in the state political arena. He wanted bigger and much better, A senate seat in the U.S. government. I do not think he ever thought of the presidency of the country, but he wanted to be in an important position so he could possibly change something for the better, and thereby be remembered. Certainly leaving a lasting monument is not ludicrous, but I think it is somewhat selfish. (But aren't we all).
Now I would like to bring up an important point. As we grow through the years every single occurence in our life leaves an indelible mark no matter how small. Of course The Lord has everything to do with life. The big occurences leave big marks. Lincoln's love of his life and this deep depression left huge indelible marks on his mind. But Lincoln was not weak minded. He took them as learning experiences and used them to his ends. I also think that although Lincoln felt "Necessity" was the ultimate ruler, he knew deep down, God was the True Ruler. He did not want to admit that there was an Ultimate Being dispensing justice on mankind. He did though realize this later and it is expressed in his Second Inaugural speech.
Another point about him is that he did not take the easy route out. Man is accustomed to constantly take the easy route. For Lincoln this was a calamity. If taking the more difficult thought pattern would bring a better end, he took it.
Anyway on to the more beefy stuff. Lincoln grew up to be very tall, six feet four inches, and he had enormous hands for his size, Some say it was Marfin's (Marfan's) syndrome, but I think it was just acromegaly. He was extremely strong too. When needed he used that strength.
He liked politics very much and studied hard to become a lawyer. (Though his partner Herndon writes that he didn't think Lincoln ever read fully through a law book. He also told that Lincoln was not a technical lawyer, but rather an illustrator who would tell a story to make it clear in jurors minds that whatever side he was on would win. The story might not have any "truth" considering for whom it was told, but rather it "illustrated" the truth, thereby winning the case. Lincoln also spoke slowly and penetrated his words into the jurors minds). I do not want to make it as though Lincoln was a liar, he wasn't. He used every necessary tool in his arsenal to defend a case truthfully albeit in a roundabout way. He did this to free his or her defendant who was not guilty! If Lincoln felt his defendant was guilty, no matter how easy the case, he would lose, Again Lincoln was purely honest.
If anything can be said about Lincoln, it was that he lived hardships throughout his life. When he was nine his mother died. Then when he was in his late teens or early twenties his sister, Sarah, died. Lincoln exclaimed at this point, "Now I have no one." In 1834 or 1835 he fell in love with a unique young woman. She was fair (very beautiful) and was as sweet as she was fair; intelligent too. After a year of knowing her she died. This wrenched Lincoln mentally and I think he held onto it for twenty five years, although marrying Mary Todd definitely eased the pain greatly. (She would also cause him great pains, but that is for future writing)
On January 1st of 1841, Lincoln went into a deep depression. (He called it the "Fatal first of January"). Nothing could help him out of it. He felt as though he was the most miserable man alive. There were bad circumstances surrounding him, but I believe they did not set the depression, but rather a chemical in his brain failed to work and he was pressed down. The way he wrote at that time shows it was a Clinical Depression.
At this point I want to interject something about Lincoln that is quite unique in his character. He felt that everything was done by "Necessity." In other words, "the human mind is impelled to act or held in rest, by which the human mind has no control." Lincoln was unaware that the Almighty Father has His finger on everything! So was this deep depression, "Necessity," or a burp in Lincoln's plans or maybe something Much Higher.
Eventually Lincoln came out of it. He went to his best friends, Joshua Speed's farm, and there he took it easy (he even had a slave appointed to him) and with the great help of Speed's sister, Lincoln broke out of it. I think Lincoln did not really fully break out of it. Yes he had been able to conduct business and even led the country during its toughest time, but I think it was a learning process for him. That having something so deep and dreadful as his depression (no one can measure anyone elses depression - the Clinical kind) he forbode ever going back into the depths of that kind ever again. Though I think the Civil War brought him to those depths once more.
If anything can be said about Lincoln, it was that he felt he was a failure. In his deep depression he stated that if he were to die, there was nothing for anyone to remember him by. Lincoln was a kind person. Never hurting anyone unjustly, always kind in every manner, But he did have one thought about himself that I find a flaw. He wanted to leave a "Lasting Monument." It wasn't good enough that he was a great lawyer, that he served in the state political arena. He wanted bigger and much better, A senate seat in the U.S. government. I do not think he ever thought of the presidency of the country, but he wanted to be in an important position so he could possibly change something for the better, and thereby be remembered. Certainly leaving a lasting monument is not ludicrous, but I think it is somewhat selfish. (But aren't we all).
Now I would like to bring up an important point. As we grow through the years every single occurence in our life leaves an indelible mark no matter how small. Of course The Lord has everything to do with life. The big occurences leave big marks. Lincoln's love of his life and this deep depression left huge indelible marks on his mind. But Lincoln was not weak minded. He took them as learning experiences and used them to his ends. I also think that although Lincoln felt "Necessity" was the ultimate ruler, he knew deep down, God was the True Ruler. He did not want to admit that there was an Ultimate Being dispensing justice on mankind. He did though realize this later and it is expressed in his Second Inaugural speech.
Another point about him is that he did not take the easy route out. Man is accustomed to constantly take the easy route. For Lincoln this was a calamity. If taking the more difficult thought pattern would bring a better end, he took it.
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