Have you ever noticed how we, as a society, have a tendency to make things more complicated than they have to be?

Growing up on a farm I learned from my Dad and Grandpa at an early age to "make due" with what you have. Sometimes you were even lucky enough to where the easiest route and the cheapest route were one in the same - other times though, that wasn't the case.

What brought me back to thinking about my days of growing up on the farm was an email I received from a listener. It's a story that I'm familiar with, but haven't seen in quite a while.

It's about a Mensa group and a salt and pepper shaker. So, as a favor to you, I would like to share Evelyn's story with you. It's about over-thinking something and, as my Grandpa used to say, "Making a mountain out of a mole hill."

Some years ago, there was a Mensa Convention. Mensa, as you may or may not be aware, is a national organization for people who have an IQ of 140 or higher.

Several of the Mensa members went out for lunch at a local cafe. When they sat down, one of them discovered that their salt shaker contained pepper, and their pepper shaker was full of salt.

How could they swap the contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and using only the implements at hand? Clearly this was a job for Mensa minds.

The group debated the problem and eventually came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer.  They then called the waitress over to dazzle her with their solution.

"Ma'am," they said, "We couldn't help but notice that the pepper shaker contains salt, and the salt shaker contains pepper."  But before they could finish the waitress interrupted them.  “Oh, I'm sorry about that."

She then leaned over the table, unscrewed the caps of both bottles, and switched them - leading to dead silence at the table.

This story also got me thinking a lot about our government. Why do the brilliant minds in Washington that we elect to represent us always have to make things so darn complicated?

All you have to do is sit down and listen (or watch) the news. After a few minutes in our house, it usually plays out like this - I look over towards my wife and starting shaking my head and rolling my eyes!

Again, quoting my Grandpa, "The simplest way is usually the best way." Washington, are you listening?

 

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