Still Relevant

STILL RELEVANT

 

I chose these ancient scales that were on display in a museum in Ephesus, Turkey, to illustrate part of this post.  Have you ever used this old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

     Chances are, you've used this useful truism at some time in your life.  Have you ever wondered where the phrase originated?  Maybe not, but I'm going to tell you anyway -

      In 1736, Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, using it to encourage the citizens of Philadelphia to be very careful to prevent unwanted fires that could easily become raging infernos (as frequently happened in those days).  Meaning, a little precaution before a problem occurs is preferable to a lot of fixing up afterward.  Wise words to live by every day!

      I have a humorous story to share about the next truism.  I had always considered this a good phrase to use, but apparently, not everyone agrees - it is:  "Six of one, half-a dozen of the other," which basically means that the two things are identical.

     A few years ago, I was in the car with my two daughters and their husbands.  Derek stepped out of the car to get some information and we began talking about various quotes people use - like the 'ounce of prevention' quote.  Sara said there was one that always puzzled her, it was, "Six of one, half-a dozen of the other."  She said, "What does that even mean?"

     We began explaining the meaning to Sara, trying to help her understand, and that's when Derek returned to the car.  We asked what he'd found out and he said, "Oh, you know, six of one, half-a dozen of the other."

     We all burst into tears down the face laughter and could not believe the coincidence!  Poor Derek looked at us like, "What? Was it something I said?"

     The phrase in question originated in 1790 (why does everything seem to originate in the 1700s?).  A British Naval officer Ralph Clark used the expression in his ship's journal.  The ship had undergone some sort of wreck in the Pacific Ocean and this is what he wrote about the behavior of the men: "Of all the places in the world, this is the greatest nest of rascals.  It is impossible to trust any one of our men hardly any much more than any of the convicts.  In short, there is no difference between soldier sailor and convicts.  They're Six of the One and half a Dozen of the other."

     So, you ask, what spiritual message can you glean from this?

--"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" offers numerous spiritual messages.  I'll grab a couple and say, "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established," Proverbs 4:26.

          "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil," Ephesians 5:15

--"Six of the one and half-a dozen of the other" - in our case, I'll just say, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance," and "Laughter is good medicine," from Proverbs.