Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Light?


We are going to hop along with RoryBore for her Tuesday Coffee Chat.

Today she asks this very serious question:

You are in a cabin and it is pitch black. You have one match on you. Which do you light first, the newspaper, the lamp, the candle or the fire? 

Well this must be a trick question - right? You can't possibly light any thing first without lighting the match! But then I suppose we could get philosophical here and determine what you would light first (assuming the match was already lit)! Now the way my mind processes information is this: I would want to light the one thing that has the most potential for providing light, not going out, and has the potential to ignite other things.

If you chose the candle, it is good to light other things - until it burns out - so that would not be my choice. 
If you chose the newspaper, it would provide light, and the potential to light the fire - but then it is gone! - That would not be my choice.
If you chose the lamp, it would provide light, but won't last infinitely.
SO that only leaves the Fire! - Now, it will provide light, heat and the ability to continue to light things (but I think I would light the newspaper first to light the fire!)

Now I get to go see what everyone thinks!

Thanks Les - great question

6 comments:

  1. Wasn't there a song "Light my fire!"

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  2. You know Pondering is what set me on this course!! When I got thinking about how we ponder words and all their uses - I naturally tripped over into how they can also be tricks and riddles. So... this is your fault really. LOL

    And yes, the "right" answer is to light the match first. But I follow your way of thinking: the fire should be lit first because it's light and heat! the trick is to just keep it going.
    So based on this - I think "fire" or even "match" would be good pondering words! :)

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    Replies
    1. I think you are right and I will add them to the list right now!

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  3. Great minds think alike, my friend. I went down the list must like you did, and thought similar things. I ended up in a different place though! Hugs.

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