As a spiritual being, man lives in a necessary tension between the Now and the Not-Yet, a tension that offers powerful insights into otherwise intractable problems. Respecting the different answers offered by other religions, Christians draw from a wealth of reflection that possibly eclipses other beliefs, as the Bible was the first printed book and is still a bestseller. The Gift of Intelligence and how ideas occur is my interest here. I wonder about the personal ownership of the mind’s inspiration. The classic Eureka Moment is 3rd century BCE Archimedes’ discovery of the principle of buoyancy. He famously stepped into a bathtub and solved the king’s challenge to verify the royal crown was pure gold. Though history hasn’t transmit the result, this shows inspiration is as likely to strike while brushing one’s teeth, as pondering great problems. This demonstrates that the mind’s wonderful synaptic connections are beyond our control.
This brings to the surface a query. Is intelligence a divine gift or a mere evolutionary feature? When a poet was asked if he composed methodically, he replied: “No, I make the verses up. They pop out of my head.” Innovation coaches teach that ideas come from everywhere, especially daydreaming, even while being bored. We get ideas all the time, everyone does and the difference is made by those who write them down. Edison made famous the maxim that: “Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.” Einstein insisted that: “The only real valuable thing is intuition.” Today we worship the fruits of intelligence harvested by prodigies, computer whizzes and those economic titans enviously celebrated in magazines like Forbes’s Billionaire Issue. However, since we no longer condemn the mentally handicapped for their dimmed ability, does it really make sense to admire the mentally gifted for their intellectual faculty?
Neither height, memory or strength are personal choices. Consequently, I believe, intelligence is poured forth in its diversity to build up the Kingdom of God. It is only self-conceit that assures those amassing wealth, that it results solely from their efforts for their exclusive gratification. On the contrary, cognitive power is really no less a credit, than mental handicap is a discredit. I draw the conclusion that neither is a personal entitlement. Every aspect of life is a gift to be used wisely for mankind’s advancement. When blessed with more of anything, we must simply give more: doctors healing the poor, lawyers defending the helpless, engineers sheltering the homeless and merchants supplying the needy. Where talents aren't shared, Christ is not. Where abundance isn't distributed, Christ is not. Where knowledge is power, Christ is not. Where the clever exploit the weak, Christ is not. Where intelligence breeds arrogance, Christ is not.
This is the “Prayer for Intellect”: Lord, You are the Source of all Life, all Truth, and all Beauty. I pray to You today, with all my heart, for my intelligence, this light in me, this plant which demands years and years of care, this thing in me, mysterious and moving, this activity which sometimes binds, sometimes slows down, which sometimes lifts me up with enthusiasm and sometimes exasperates me. I pray for this thing which runs after ideas, symbols and numbers, this thing which all of a sudden has penetrated inside the thought of another and joins with it like the fusion of two lights, a fusion which brings about warmth and light. I pray to You for my mind as You are the Supreme Intelligence which penetrates, illuminates, and embraces all our intelligence. Lord, help make my intelligence amenable to all truths, able to understand the thoughts of others. Give to me the wisdom to know the meaning and purpose of my life and learning, so that my knowledge, understanding, and skills may help in some little way to make this world a better place – for Your greater glory.
