"...but we've always done it this way!"

There are very few original thinkers in the world. Most people are secondary thinkers, allowing others to do the thinking for them, and never questioning the why and how of their thought. This is often true in our society, in company structures, and wherever groups of people come together...even churches!

Just ponder on the following story of a study of a group of monkeys and their actions. Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs underneath the suspended banana. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey will make an attempt for the banana. Again, spray the other monkeys with cold water. After another period of time, when another monkey makes an attempt for the banana, spray the other monkeys with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs to reach it. To his surprise (and horror) all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.

Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for thebanana. Why not?

Because as far as they know, that's the way it's always been done around here. And that, my friends, is how behaviors become accepted without understanding. Human beings sadly sometimes act in the same ways. Doing a certain thing, a certain way, and defending that action fiercely—all the while, not really knowing why they're doing it.

True God-given creative genius can not come through the mind of the unconscious follower of secondary thought. Choose to live your life being bold, creative and unique. Have the courage to look at life and ask the question WHY we are doing something a certain way. You will see things in a new light!

I'm holding the high watch!

Rev. Donna