Within my personal experience, the purchase and use of Cliffs Notes by many was a way to avoid reading the assigned book. The Cliffs Notes offering on say Of Mice and Men (and many more) sets up the high points and characters but is a tad thin on details. And as in the old saying, "the devils in the details." Those who relied on Cliffs Notes had a hard time with the final exam; they lacked the knowing of the details to answer things like - why did this character do this, and how did this happen? All because those folks decided to take a short-cut.
Our times are filled with Cliffs Notes like opportunities. But, these so-called "opportunities" lack the details needed for not just completion but also success. It's like someone telling you that the view from Pike's Peak can be yours (all the while telling you the beauty of it all) but not letting you know that it's a bitch on your automobile to get to the top (there is no short-cut to the top of Pike's Peak) Can you get to the top? Absolutely. But would the the journey be better if you know about the pitfalls along the way and therefore can prepare for them?
Thoughtful people will agree but there are those who enjoy the thrill of a blown radiator. Which one do you want to be? Do you want the details or are you just interested in the highlights?
Havamal verse 8 - A man who has profited well by his self-reliance and industriousness is held in high regard by other men. A man's reputation cannot depend on help from others; that help can be a long time in coming, if it comes at all.
Havamal verse 38 - Never go far without your wits and your tools. You never know when you will need them.
Havamal verse 74 - When a man is well prepared, he can handle any change. But, he must remain vigilant; some changes happen quickly and are more daring than others.
The above Havamal verses are taken from ... The View - One Man's Living Asatru With Help From The Havamal and The View - Act II, written by Terry Unger.
Copyright @2016 Terry Unger
