Solving Einstein's challenge
The moment I realized I was one of the smartest people on earth--maybe
In fifth or sixth grade I came across a riddle/puzzle dubbed “Einstein’s Challenge.” The story goes that Albert Einstein himself authored this challenge and claimed that only 2% of the world could solve it. So when this puzzle was presented to me, I had to attempt it to prove to the world that I was one smart cookie.
The challenge involves a series of nationalists from different countries who live in different colored houses and have different types of pets and drink different types of drinks and smoke different types of cigarettes (I felt semi-guilty as a young Christian tackling a problem that included alcohol and smoking). It gives you a series of clues and you are supposed to sort out who goes where, ultimately determining which person has fish as pets.
So I set about tackling the problem in my young optimism, with my natural self-confidence that I’ve never seemed to shake. It took me a few days, but I solved the puzzle. I figured it out. I proved worthy of Einstein himself, and, if the narrative could be believed, I was now officially in the smartest 2% of people on our planet.
I know, I’m kinda a big deal.
Turns out—as you problem guessed—it’s not an accurate claim that only 2% of people can solve the puzzle. The number is probably significantly higher. It’s extremely unlikely as well that Einstein created the challenge. But the narrative is compelling. You attach a dude known for being super smart and present a provocative claim of intellectual superiority. We are drawn to such a challenge. It’s hard to resist.
Admittedly, without the alleged context of the puzzle, I don’t think I would have worked so hard on it. But tell me that only 2% of people can do it and you better believe I’ll give it a shot to stroke my ego!
It’s all about the ego.
High egos make someone vulnerable in more ways than one.
I have been dabbling in spycraft documentaries and miniseries of late and one of the ways intelligence agencies determine if someone might defect to a foreign country is an acronym called M.I.C.E. The ‘E’ stands for ego—because someone with an inflated sense of self is more likely to pass secrets to the enemy just for the challenge or because they truly believe themselves above the law. Egotistical people are more likely to betray their values for their own interests, so they are on more watchlists.
Similarly, the cosmic forces of evil understand that ego is a real factor in tripping someone up or compromising them. The higher a person’s self-interest, the easier it is to get them off Jesus’ path into a self-gratifying path that destroys one’s self and destroys others. It’s not rocket science. Christianity is a faith built on others so anything that then focuses too greatly on me ends up putting itself at odds with the cornerstone of Christianity.
As is often quoted, “Pride comes before the fall” (a translation of Proverbs 16:18). Like in Shakespeare’s many tragedies, the higher one sees himself or the more secure someone believes they are—the harder they will fall. Pride is a recipe for compromise, distraction, and for destruction. If we spent all our time looking inward, we’ll find ourselves destroyed.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
-Pslams 10:4
But there’s hope for the prideful among us (like me). The antidote to ego is humility.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
-Philippians 2:3-4
It’s not as if we should ignore 100% of our wants and needs. Being a pushover is not a cardinal virtue. Yet, if we have to err on either side, let’s err on the side of being too others-focused over being too self-focused.
We must intentionally look beyond ourselves. If two roads lie before us, choose the one that helps others more than helps yourself. We must remember that being in the smartest 2% of the world is not the chief goal of humankind. Meaning is far more likely to be found in others, not ourselves.
Question of the Week
Leave your answer in the comment section below or reply to this email.
How do you balance taking care of your own needs with the Christian call to focus on the interests of others over your own interests?
My “Goings On”
I finished reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne—was not as interesting as I hoped.
School is almost done!
Einstein out,
Jake Doberenz
Thanks for reading Funny & Faithful, a sub-section of the A Christian in Public newsletter. Please share this publication with others!