I recently read the book Around the World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne. I had never read it before, and I was in a particularly desperate mood to do some traveling myself. This book was calling to me from our bookshelves, as I believed it could satisfy my urge to see other lands. And while it did end up being a fantastic book about travel, I walked away with an entirely different piece of wisdom altogether.
From the very first pages of the book I was taken by the main character, Phileas Fogg. He was so incredibly calm. All manner of things could be spinning around him and yet he remained cool. He didn’t seem to experience shock or surprise and chaos did not effect him. Though he was a man of proper planning and schedule, he was not shaken by sudden change, as if he had taken it into calculation all along, even though he couldn’t possibly have.
As he is betting against his friends that he can in fact make it around the world in 80 days they start to question him. What about Indians or bad weather? What about shipwrecks or accidents? He tells them, this is all included in the 80 days calculation. His friends say, well sure, it could happen theoretically, but never practically.
“Practically also,” Mr. Fogg replies.
His friends continue to try and talk sense into him, telling him he could lose all his money “by a single accidental delay.” To which he confidently and coolly replies, “The unforeseen does not exist.” It’s as if he is able to plan and account for every obstacle, every rabbit trail, every bump in the road before he has even seen or heard of them.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how this characteristic of Phileas Fogg could be adopted into my own life. Is it possible that I could keep from responding emotionally to change, to hiccups in life, to the things yet to come that are out of my control and will take me off course? Could I respond instead with a confident, “Oh yes. I’m not surprised. I took this into calculation.”
Is this characteristic of Mr. Fogg so admirable because it only exists in fiction or is it possible amidst the realities of our lives? Amidst the strength of our faith? Amidst the bigness of our God?
There is great creativity and quite confidence required when living such as Mr. Fogg. One must be on their toes. I wonder if my toes are capable of such skillful maneuvering.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We should have had a book club on this book since we’ve read it at the same time! I don’t think I’m near to being as calm and confident as Phileas but life has certainly taught me to savor and relish the peaceful moments and seasons in my life, so that I am not without having enjoyed them to the fullest when disruption comes. This priciple is honestly how I enjoy at least some part of everyday.
So you are saying it’s possible? Yea! I’m so glad someone else thinks it’s possible. It’s a beautiful way to live.