PART FOUR
THE GIFT

UNTIL ONE IS COMMITTED THERE IS HESITANCY,
THE CHANCE TO DRAW BACK, ALWAYS INEFFECTIVENESS.

CONCERNING ALL ACTS OF INITIATIVE (AND CREATION)
THERE IS ONE ELEMENTARY TRUTH, THE IGNORANCE OF WHICH KILLS COUNTLESS IDEAS AND SPLENDID PLANS:

THE MOMENT ONE DEFINITELY COMMITS ONESELF,
THEN PROVIDENCE MOVES TOO.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS OCCUR TO HELP ONE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
NEVER HAVE OCCURRED. A WHOLE STREAM OF EVENTS ISSUES FROM THE DECISION,
RAISING IN ONE’S FAVOR ALL MANNER OF UNFORESEEN INCIDENTS AND
MEETINGS AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE,
WHICH NO MAN COULD HAVE DREAMED WOULD HAVE COME HIS WAY.

—W. N. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition