I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With my departure from New Zealand in just over two weeks, and all the packing, cleaning, organising etc to be done I am taking a break from blogging. Maybe to be picked up again in the new year, once established in my new location at Preston, (just outside Melbourne) in Australia.
So until we meet again. Insha'Allah.
Saturday 20 December 2008
Wednesday 10 December 2008
Detours are a Problem
I knew my ultimate destination, and I knew the roads to get there, but as I came round the corner I saw the fluorescent 'DETOUR" sign that preceded a barricaded road, the only way I knew to get to my goal was closed! Momentary panic ensued - a decision needed to be made. I didn't know the roads that the detour arrows led me down and I was not comfortable with the change of scenery, let alone the change of roads.
My road trip experience has parallels for me in the spiritual dynamic of the church. I think that many people (Christians) want concrete direction, some want decisions made for them, many want the church to tell them what to do, to wear, to say, to work at and to think. They want to know not only the ultimate destination but what roads to take and a guarantee that they are safe, open and dependable.
These people, usually fundamentalists, can come unstuck when the dynamic, messy and undependable reality of society and relationship collide with their neat, controlled, predictable spiritual Rubik cube.
Life is full of unexpected detours which can throw us off track momentarily, or if we have no foundation upon which to negotiate our own re-alignment they can throw us off track permanently.
In cultural terms this could find some clarity in the idea that for a 'modern', spirituality is a series of decisions - controlled, predictable and rational, (like colour coded squares rotating on a rigid and unforgiving framework). For a 'post-modern', spirituality is a 'journey' which has a specific destination but a flexibility that finds detours not annoying and panic inducing, but exciting and possibly opportunities to learn.
Despite this 'clarity' it is impossible to label moderns as fundamentalists, and post-moderns as liberals - it's not a matter of culture, and it's not a static state that defines us for eternity. Perhaps it's a matter of personality, genetics or contextual necessity.
I have the privilege of interacting with people of numerous denominations, faiths and belief systems. I don't have the luxury of absolutes, in fact I have not found many to exist. What I need to know is my destination (and I know that) and the non-negotiables of the journey (love - for God and others).
What frustrates some people is that I refuse to give them concrete answers. (I can't do the cube!) I'll tell them what I believe God reveals, I'll share my own experience, and that of others I know and read and I'll love and accept them as best I can, as I believe Jesus would: but then the decision, the journey is up to them.
My road trip experience has parallels for me in the spiritual dynamic of the church. I think that many people (Christians) want concrete direction, some want decisions made for them, many want the church to tell them what to do, to wear, to say, to work at and to think. They want to know not only the ultimate destination but what roads to take and a guarantee that they are safe, open and dependable.
These people, usually fundamentalists, can come unstuck when the dynamic, messy and undependable reality of society and relationship collide with their neat, controlled, predictable spiritual Rubik cube.
Life is full of unexpected detours which can throw us off track momentarily, or if we have no foundation upon which to negotiate our own re-alignment they can throw us off track permanently.
In cultural terms this could find some clarity in the idea that for a 'modern', spirituality is a series of decisions - controlled, predictable and rational, (like colour coded squares rotating on a rigid and unforgiving framework). For a 'post-modern', spirituality is a 'journey' which has a specific destination but a flexibility that finds detours not annoying and panic inducing, but exciting and possibly opportunities to learn.
Despite this 'clarity' it is impossible to label moderns as fundamentalists, and post-moderns as liberals - it's not a matter of culture, and it's not a static state that defines us for eternity. Perhaps it's a matter of personality, genetics or contextual necessity.
I have the privilege of interacting with people of numerous denominations, faiths and belief systems. I don't have the luxury of absolutes, in fact I have not found many to exist. What I need to know is my destination (and I know that) and the non-negotiables of the journey (love - for God and others).
What frustrates some people is that I refuse to give them concrete answers. (I can't do the cube!) I'll tell them what I believe God reveals, I'll share my own experience, and that of others I know and read and I'll love and accept them as best I can, as I believe Jesus would: but then the decision, the journey is up to them.
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Respected Leaders
Respect demanded is Dictatorship!
At a recent leaders event I was reminded that respect (and loyalty) must be earned. It's only my opinion, (as are all the comments on this blog) but I think that leaders that demand respect, 'because I'm the boss', are frightened people. Their fear finds its genesis in the knowledge, and their observation, that they do not have the substance of character, experience and relationship to influence without exerting and abusing the power of their position, or appointment.
I operate in an autocratic community, and I accept that there is a certain amount of military-style leadership, but that does not give me, or my leaders, the right to demand unconditional respect and uninformed loyalty .
Show me a track record that reveals you care, show me your life, show me you understand (even if you don't agree), and show me that my individuality matters - and I'll listen to you, I'll respect you and I may even follow you.
At a recent leaders event I was reminded that respect (and loyalty) must be earned. It's only my opinion, (as are all the comments on this blog) but I think that leaders that demand respect, 'because I'm the boss', are frightened people. Their fear finds its genesis in the knowledge, and their observation, that they do not have the substance of character, experience and relationship to influence without exerting and abusing the power of their position, or appointment.
I operate in an autocratic community, and I accept that there is a certain amount of military-style leadership, but that does not give me, or my leaders, the right to demand unconditional respect and uninformed loyalty .
Show me a track record that reveals you care, show me your life, show me you understand (even if you don't agree), and show me that my individuality matters - and I'll listen to you, I'll respect you and I may even follow you.
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