Seven Bells - Belgaer: Think

[lslaw.livejournal.com]

This is the mechanism of the universe: action is accompanied by reaction; the reaction not following the action, but occurring precisely in alignment with it, each one both cause and consequence. There is no hesitation or consideration, no pause between catalyst and response.

That is the mechanism of the universe; the actions of a thinking being are different. However brief, however slight, there must be a delay; there must be a thought between action and reaction, between cause and consequence. It is because of this that there is blame in our lives, that one thing causes another instead of two things causing each other.

That is the mechanism of a thinking being; of a free agent. It must be the mechanism by which we lead our lives. Because we do live in a world of blame, where our actions have consequences beyond those which we intend; we have to think about what else those actions might cause.

Thought doesn't separate us from the animals; it separates us from the mere mechanics of the universe. It is a gift, and we have to use it, or we end up at the mercy of reaction, caught up in a chain of inescapable consequences.

We can think, or we can react, and just keep on reacting.

Once, I reacted. Now, I choose to think.