“The untold revelations of Nature are in her Reserve Power. Reserve Power is Nature’s method of meeting emergencies. Nature is wise and economic. Nature saves energy and effort, and gives only what is absolutely necessary for life and development under any given condition, and when new needs arise Nature always meets them by her Reserve Power.” ~ William George Jordan
Every living human being is endowed with an energy source. How he uses that vital life force determines his effectiveness in life. If it is invested wisely and judiciously, that force is multiplied as it passes through body, mind and heart and transformed to meet the momentary need. If it is wasted, nature is merciful…to a point.
Body, mind and heart must be trained to use the fullness of of the power. Used properly, each develop greater capacity for the translation of that power. Abused, the carrying capacity is reduced over time, ending in death. While mercy is a virtue, it is not unlimited. There is a tipping point beyond which the scales cannot be rebalanced.
That said, nature’s mercy is great, often exceeding man’s highest expectations. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, a hidden reserve of power sufficient to save the day may be released without prior notice, especially to those who have exercised the full use of their powers without excuse, apology or regret and along the lines of excellence.
“Nature, that thus watches so tenderly over the physical needs of man, is equally provident in storing for him a mental and a moral Reserve Power. Man may fail in a dozen different lines of activity and then succeed brilliantly in a phase wherein he was unconscious of any ability. We must never rest content with what we are, and say: “There is no use for me to try. I can never be great. I am not even clever now.” But the law of Reserve Power stands by us as a fairy godmother and says: “There is one charm by which you can transmute the dull dross of your present condition into the pure gold of strength and power, that charm is ever doing your best, ever daring more, and the full measure of your final attainment can never be told in advance. Rely upon me to help you with new revelations of strength in new emergencies. Never be cast down because your power seems so trifling, your progress so slow. The world’s greatest and best men were failures in some line, failures many times before failure was crowned with success.” ~ William George Jordan
Treat each and every challenge in life as though there were no reserve, no secret stash of energy available to move through to victory. Use every opportunity to strengthen your capacities of body, mind and heart, no matter how trying, boring or mundane. There is no better way to repay the privilege of life and the generosity of nature.
Gregory Hake 
I really enjoyed the description of moral and mental reserve by Jordan. How we use our energy is critical and it’s so important to work/play smarter, not harder. I have found that this creates more energy and saves the reserves for when they are most needed.
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Such beautiful and powerful poetic descriptions. Thank you!
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This is a wonderful message. Why shut the door unnecessarily on a blessing that could come through, given Nature’s mercy? We would only have ourselves to blame in that case. Great food for thought!
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I find that one of the easiest examples of this to discover is in physical exertion. Everyone thinks that they have a certain limit, until they are forced to pass through that limit for some reason or another. It is then that they realize that their true limits are much higher than they could ever have thought. This is true of physical energy, but it is also true of our other types of energy as well. Our limits are so much higher than we believe!
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The words that you and Mr. Jordan so passionatly shared with us this morning have struck a chord within me Gregg – thank you! What they remind me of is to treasure each moment as it is lived regardless of what may or may not be appearing in the circumstances. After all, one never knows what is around the next corner do they!
And I for one want to be prepared and available for whatever it may be.
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To have power in reserve is indeed an honor! When the chips are down, when the sails are tattered and torn, still life can rise to the occassion and if your intent is true and your desire noble, life unconditionally grants you some extra juice to get you through the moment.
I think the need in you has to be genuine enough for this door to be open in your awareness of this possibility. If it is not genuine, you will never reach the depths you need to be in to receive this dowry that nature offers for you will have given up long before this moment arrives and thus reconfirmed your hopeless cause. To have tasted this once changes your forever. It gives you an experience that you cannot forget and should naturally eliminate any nihilistic opinion you hold of what is possible. A true working paradigm of practical optimism begins to settle in your consciousness, and reaffirms the feeling of that which is natural to youth and further protects it from dissipating during the adult years.
I stand in awe to the power and strength that Nature holds, for She is the exquisite provider of all that we need coupled with the beauty inherent in all things true to themselves. Seems like autumn is here today!
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In so many ways life is a neutral and it’s up to us to add the power and passion. I guess that said, we’d be well to take care as to what we become passionate about!
Good to think about, thanks.
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Great post to begin my week, thanks!
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