Harmonious Wisdom
The Mercedes-Benz SL grand tourers aren’t known for revolutionary technology, but the R231 generation – produced from 2012-2020 – pioneered a neat piece of sound engineering. All models came with FrontBass, which moved the sub-woofers from the door panels to the footwells. The woofers’ enclosures were no longer made from plastic composites found in the doors, but the aluminum comprising the SL’s structural beams. As a result, the other door-panel speakers could be closer together. Moving the midrange drivers and tweeter together created better “coherence,” and with the big-bass woofers in their proper place, a fullness of sound can be created. And your legs don’t vibrate when you lean them against the door.
Audio coherence is determined by the proportionality and placement of various audio components. Everything must be in its right place with within the right measure. It’s like a ratio of low, mid-range, and high-range frequencies.
Actually, the word “rational” originally drew its meaning from the root word “ratio” (which, incidentally, has been used to determine musical harmonies). A rational person is one who can process conflicting arguments, which seem evenly weighted against each other, by evaluating them and assigning them their true weight. Here’s an example: “It’s 2012 and I can afford the $105,000 cost of a new SL550, but for that price I could also buy a 1990 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Coupe and my desire for the Countach outweighs my desire for a new SL by at least a 9:1 margin, which means I would only buy an SL if it was 1/9th the cost of a Countach (and even then I’d really have to think about it”). Or, as the writer of Proverbs 2 puts it:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud or understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)
The Proverbs are full of practical wisdom for normal folks, and here, at the heart, is the secret to pure, rational thinking. It begins with a full measure of “words” and “commands” written by a person inspired by God. These are “accepted within” a person. This is the foundation, the largest portion of the ratio. Upon this foundation, a person can utilize three other actions (listening, speaking, and looking). Evaluating whatever they find, they can weigh it against the Godly wisdom and evaluate it and assign a true weight to it. It’s everything in its right place with the right measure. It’s coherent, rational wisdom, and it helps a person live in harmony in a world full of sin and evil.
Whether you find yourself facing a tough decision or you just like to periodically review your day and determine whether something you did or said was wise or not, try thinking about it “ratio-nally.” Perhaps the foundation of your decision can be based on something from the Bible you’ve “accepted within” your heart. Maybe you can gain some understanding by “turning your ear” to a person advocating a certain outcome or action. You might “call out” for advice from someone you admire, and “look for” possible solutions in a good book or blog. In appropriate measure, you are seeking wisdom from God and finding a rational answer.
It shouldn’t seem revolutionary, but sometimes putting everything in its correct place creates perfect harmony – a harmony that makes you admires the wisdom of the creator.
By now, you’ve probably seen R231s in a variety of forms out on the road, from the base model all the way up to the SL65 AMG with its 6-liter, 621-horsepower twin-turbo V12. If you’ve got an irascible right foot, buying one of those might not be the wisest thing to do, even if it’s easy to rationalize.
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