Serendipity

Serendipity: ser-en-dip-i-ty--noun, a gift for discovery: a natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary)

My daughter sent me a short video of a newscast. Sending videos has become a past time for many but not for her or for me. So when I saw the attachment on the email and the topic, “Burning Saltwater,” I was intrigued. I now share it with you and after you watch it, I’ll explain why.

Download May42007WKYCCleveland.wmv

Here’s what rang my bell. First, John Kanzius decides to spend his retirement years searching for a cure for cancer. A noble goal, especially if you’re a medical doctor, but Kanzius' background is broadcast electronics. Instead of saying, “I have no training in the field, therefore I’ll sit around and watch television,” Kanzius tries anyway.

Second, he discovers—by accident—that his device can break away the oxygen and hydrogen in water to generate a burnable fuel. Kanzius wasn’t looking for away to do that, he stumbled over it. However, he was open to new ideas and recognized the potential.

This blog is dedicated to creativity, especially as it finds voice in writing. What excites me about this video piece is the sight of a man willing to try something noble for the good of others and serendipitously finds an entirely different application for his work.

“Think outside the box,” is a much overused and threadbare expression in business. (Here’s where we need creative people to step out of the box and suggest a better line.) Tired as the idiom is, it still makes the point. In writing and other creative outlets, it helps to put aside the “I-can’t-do-this-because” thinking and chase the dream. It also helps to be open to the unexpected.

My characters and events have changed my plot points more often than I can count. Those “Aha!” moments are gems and I’ve come to depend on them. Creativity is not just creating out of nothing, but recognizing a good idea and doing something with it.

My hat is off to Mr. Kanzius May his tribe increase.

AG

Comments

[RichB]

I've always been more fascinated with ingenuity than pure creation. Maybe it's using what is already created, but it is a form of creation all its own.

One of my favorite scenes is in Grapes of Wrath where the Joads change the connecting rod of the engine of their old car by parking it over a ditch, carefully lowering the oil pan (to preserve the oil), and using parts from a junk yard.

[Anita McIlveen]

My daughter and I have recently read all three of your books about Mayor Madison Glenn. I was looking on the web for news of a fourth book. Is one coming? Soon?
Needless to say, we both enjoyed your books immensely.
Anita