Phenomenal Capacity.
In the West Wing episode “He shall, from time to time…” ( Season 1, Ep. 12) President Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, is on his way to deliver his very first State of the Union Address. Before doing so, however, he meets with the Secretary of Agriculture, who has been selected as Designated Successor for the evening. Bartlet lists out the first action steps the Secretary should take if he were to have to take over the office of the Presidency — selecting Joint Chiefs, Commanders, Chief of Staff etc.
After going through the particulars, President Bartlet makes his way out of the oval office, but pauses briefly to address a hesitant Secretary once more -
“You’ll do fine. People have phenomenal capacity.”
When life is piling on the impossible. When you see your cup full with no more room, when the vessel seems solid, strict, and finite. We forget, that in fact, we have room to stretch.
Phenomenal — “very remarkable; extraordinary.”
Capacity — “the maximum amount that something can contain.”
The maximum you and I can contain, or produce, is remarkable.
There have been so many times in my life I wish I could have heard this — ready in the back of my mind to repeat to myself.
