Charles Francis Adams is well known for his visit to Nauvoo in the spring of 1844. He described it in his journal highlighting a visit with the city’s famous mayor, Joseph Smith. In another well-known journal entry, he made two years later during a recess of the U.S. Congress, Charles Adams took one of his younger sons, eight-year-old Henry Brooks Adams, fishing. Not only was the father an avid journal keeper, but he encouraged his children to keep one as well. On the day of this trip, Charles wrote in his journal: “Went fishing with my son, a day wasted.” Young Henry wrote in his journal: “Went fishing with my father today, the most glorious day of my life.” The Adamses show the difference perspective can make.
While history and fishing may have little in common, they do share long periods of quiet reflection with short bursts of excitement. The excitement of reeling in a caught fish may seem obvious, but there is also a measure of excitement when reeling in new understanding. Those aha moments during a presentation at a conference, or while reading an article in our association’s journal, or simply when talking to other members at a luncheon can be a great day’s catch. They change perspective.
Henry Adams grew up to become a history teacher. Although he never said why, he did write: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” One of the ways he was able to influence his students was giving them those aha moments where they gained new insight and changed their worldview. In a way he could give them the most glorious day of their lives. Thank you for striving to do the same by contributing to the expansion of understanding for each one of us and changing our perspective.
— Mark Staker