Chop wood, carry water

Those that know me well know that one of my favorite pastimes is reading – specifically, reading baseball books.

I just completed one of the more unique and enlightening baseball books I have ever read: “The Way of Baseball,’’ by former Major Leaguer Shawn Green.

In many ways, this biographical baseball book is similar to others. There are great details about the rise and fall of his career, including some pretty cool tell-all, behind-the-scenes details – such as how he could detect pitchers’ tipping their pitches. Fascinating, inside-baseball stuff.

But this baseball book was truly a breath of fresh air as Green discusses in detail the zen-like qualities of his preparation and his personality, and how they had an impact on his excellent career in the game. In the spirit of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” and “The Warrior Athlete” and “Way of the Peaceful Warrior,’’ to mention a few Eastern-thought based books that I have thoroughly enjoyed through the years, Green delves into deeper topics not normally found in a baseball book. Lessons learned here can be applied to any sport or any situation.

One quote that I had never heard of that I really liked was this: “Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” After Googling it, I realized that this is a far more common statement/quote that I was originally aware.

Not being the smartest person in the world, I will not try to explain the quote. Google it yourself and figure it out, or give it some thought and come up with your own meaning. The way Green describes it, the moral behind the “chop wood/carry water” quote is to live in the moment, to “be present” and to immerse yourself in the ordinary, everyday activities of your life.

Anyway, it was a thought-provoking quote in a very enjoyable and thought-provoking book that I will not soon forget.