Hey Friends
So I get a lot of feedback about my blog. Sometimes people say things like "hey Steve, I really liked that one post about the mini. Why haven't you written anything that funny the past couple of years." Or else they will say "Hey Steve, your spelling errors and typos are embarrassing. Seriously, it's painful."
And that's lead me to believe that my readers are loyal fans that have stuck with me over the years no matter how bad my spelling or how long my absences are. And I thought..."wow...that's weird." But I'm going to operate under the assumption that if you are reading my blog right now, there is a good chance that you actually like reading my blog. That's why I've gone back and categorized some of my favorite entries into an easy to find format. So that all readers, new, and old, can enjoy some of my best posts. (Or, actually, maybe the reason I did it was because I realized that I had posted some things twice, that I couldn't find stuff I was looking for, and that the reason I started a blog in the first place was to keep track of my thoughts, and that's kinda impossible if there is no system.)
Well whatever.
At the bottom of this post I've included some "labels." If you click on the labels they will take you to all my previous posts that have the same labels on them. So for example, all of my favorite "serious" posts are under the label "thoughtful."
All my favorite funny posts are labeled under "classic"
I felt a little presumptuous labeling stuff as "classic" and about half-way through I decided that was stupid, and that I was going to change it. But by that point...I was already half way through. And there was no way I was going back.
A smarter person would figure out a way to post all of these "labels" somewhere permanently. But you are reading my blog, so for now, if you want to find your favorite post, you are going to have to click around through the labels at the bottom. Hope you enjoy!
P.S. There has been some conversation about going back and fixing spelling errors and typos. I think I'm actually going to work on that some, but it's going to take a while, Rome wasn't built in a day...Though I doubt you could compare my Blog to Rome. Few cities though, no matter how small and crappy, were ever built in a day.
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calling. Show all posts
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The privilege of calling
The title of this post was suggested by the one and only Ben Taylor, who’s first album, entitled fist full of nothing should be released this coming summer.
But earlier I went on a rant about how we are doing ourselves a disservice by looking so hard for a vocational “calling” that it becomes a source of guilt and stress. Since I know both of my readers have already seen that post I don’t need to reference it any more.
But now I would like to offer an alternative. Did you know that the Apostle Paul made tents for a living while he was doing his ministry?* Paul probably went home every day feeling like a loser because when he went to work he made tents and that is SO unfulfilling and insignificant. I think we would all agree that Paul the tent-maker wasted his life. So sad. Too bad he couldn’t find a calling.
Paul had other things he wanted to do in life. Things that he valued. So he took a job that paid him money (gasp). But we don’t call him Paul the tent-maker; we call him the Apostle Paul, because we know that his job wasn’t his identity.
Now some of us can get excited and feel satisfied about our jobs. That’s honestly great. It really is. I hope I fit into that category some day soon.** But for others lets consider a few things.
Who are you while you’re at work? Can you be a witness or a loving, caring person?
Can you honor God with your money? If so, work can provide you with resources to honor God
Can you envision your work as an act of service?
Who are you after work?
Do you honor God where you are?
* Of course you did Ben. Why don’t you stop reading my blog and start working on your album?
**I actually really like the job I have now but I am getting kicked out of Huntington after graduation
But earlier I went on a rant about how we are doing ourselves a disservice by looking so hard for a vocational “calling” that it becomes a source of guilt and stress. Since I know both of my readers have already seen that post I don’t need to reference it any more.
But now I would like to offer an alternative. Did you know that the Apostle Paul made tents for a living while he was doing his ministry?* Paul probably went home every day feeling like a loser because when he went to work he made tents and that is SO unfulfilling and insignificant. I think we would all agree that Paul the tent-maker wasted his life. So sad. Too bad he couldn’t find a calling.
Paul had other things he wanted to do in life. Things that he valued. So he took a job that paid him money (gasp). But we don’t call him Paul the tent-maker; we call him the Apostle Paul, because we know that his job wasn’t his identity.
Now some of us can get excited and feel satisfied about our jobs. That’s honestly great. It really is. I hope I fit into that category some day soon.** But for others lets consider a few things.
Who are you while you’re at work? Can you be a witness or a loving, caring person?
Can you honor God with your money? If so, work can provide you with resources to honor God
Can you envision your work as an act of service?
Who are you after work?
Do you honor God where you are?
* Of course you did Ben. Why don’t you stop reading my blog and start working on your album?
**I actually really like the job I have now but I am getting kicked out of Huntington after graduation
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Calling out "Calling"
I would like to challenge an idea that I've been struggling with this year. I'm not sure if I've really found my "calling" in higher education. For those of you who don't speak "Christianese" as well as us Taylor Grads, Fredrich Beuchner and my Intro to Christian Ed. prof would both say that a Christian calling is where "your deepest passion meets the world's greatest need."
In other words. Don't just get a job. Go out and serve a need where you are passionate. That is the job you should get. That's you're calling. It's how you live a fulfilling Christian life. That's why it's almost a sin if someone at a Christian school or a church or any non-profit organization says "Egh, it's just a job." Simply terrible.
I think that "Calling" is one of the most miss-applied and overused term in our vernacular. Before I start ranting, I would like to say that I think God does "call" some people to do things. But I think that makes up a VERY small part of the population. I don't think that everyone is supposed to go out and "find their calling" in the vocational sense. So keep in mind here that the arguments I'm going to make specifically speak to people who believe that a "calling" refers to finding "the right" job.
I think the idea of the "calling" is a very American, and not actually from the Bible. "Whoa whoa whoa" you might say. "Don't you be saying the Bible doesn't say things that it says. What about the "calling of the twelve?"
Well, I did say that I do think God does "call" people to do things. But I think that's an exception, not a rule. First of all look at that passage (Luke 6) and you'll notice that he calls his disciples to him and selects 12. Jesus had more than 12 disciples. WAY more. But we normally only think of the 12 because we hear stories about that. Disciple is one of those words we think is ONLY a Christian word and we actually begin to forget what it really means* (And that's a thought for another day).
But the point is that out of ALL of his disciples Jesus "called" 12. So what happened to the other guys? Sorry, no calling for you. Don't quit your day job, which by the way, is not your calling.
"finding your calling" means finding that job you would do for free because it completes you and you kind of think of it as a ministry. That's a great idea, but I've compiled a very small list of the few people who fall between the cracks and aren't fortunate enough to have the opportunity to find a job that "fits" them like that. In short, this is a list of people who don't have callings.
Anyone who is forced to stay at a job they don't like for financial reasons
Anyone who is forced who failed to get the job they wanted (I got cut from the NBA)
Anyone who was drafted by the army
Anyone who got (or got his girlfriend) pregnant in high school
Anyone in prison
Anyone born in America before 1950 except for white men
Anyone who died before reaching adulthood
Anyone born into a caste system
Anyone who was ever a slave in the history of the entire world
Anyone in civilization who was born into an economic class that did not facilitate prioritizing "personal fulfillment" as a criteria for a job
Considering all the people born in the history of the world, the relatively short life of technology and the leisure time it affords, the fact that the "middle class" is a social construct that doesn't even go back 100 years, the state of many third world countries today, and a few other factors...I would say that the number of people who had NO opportunity to fulfill their calling would probably figure somewhere around 99% (unless a lot of people had callings like "Build pyramid by hand").
Steve are you being a little harsh? Are you taking this a little too far? Why yes as a matter of fact I am. But it's only to make a point. I think that God does "Call" people. And a lot of people who use the word "calling" really mean "I like this job a lot and I feel like I get a chance to serve God here." Well that's great. I'm not mad at you. But let's not make guys like me (and all the seniors I know who are graduating) panic because we are afraid we won't find our calling and we might have to settle for a "job." I feel guilty about this sometimes. I hate the idea that I might actually just get a job because it pays money and not because it's where my deepest passion meets the world's greatest need. But then again, if I did, I would probably be in fairly good company
* Just like stewardship and baptize. Go ahead and use these words to talk to a non Christian about how you thought it was a good use of your time to do the dishes before you went to bed. They will think you are speaking Christianese, but you will know that you just have a good vocabulary "I thought it was good stewardship to baptize the dishes in water before bed"
In other words. Don't just get a job. Go out and serve a need where you are passionate. That is the job you should get. That's you're calling. It's how you live a fulfilling Christian life. That's why it's almost a sin if someone at a Christian school or a church or any non-profit organization says "Egh, it's just a job." Simply terrible.
I think that "Calling" is one of the most miss-applied and overused term in our vernacular. Before I start ranting, I would like to say that I think God does "call" some people to do things. But I think that makes up a VERY small part of the population. I don't think that everyone is supposed to go out and "find their calling" in the vocational sense. So keep in mind here that the arguments I'm going to make specifically speak to people who believe that a "calling" refers to finding "the right" job.
I think the idea of the "calling" is a very American, and not actually from the Bible. "Whoa whoa whoa" you might say. "Don't you be saying the Bible doesn't say things that it says. What about the "calling of the twelve?"
Well, I did say that I do think God does "call" people to do things. But I think that's an exception, not a rule. First of all look at that passage (Luke 6) and you'll notice that he calls his disciples to him and selects 12. Jesus had more than 12 disciples. WAY more. But we normally only think of the 12 because we hear stories about that. Disciple is one of those words we think is ONLY a Christian word and we actually begin to forget what it really means* (And that's a thought for another day).
But the point is that out of ALL of his disciples Jesus "called" 12. So what happened to the other guys? Sorry, no calling for you. Don't quit your day job, which by the way, is not your calling.
"finding your calling" means finding that job you would do for free because it completes you and you kind of think of it as a ministry. That's a great idea, but I've compiled a very small list of the few people who fall between the cracks and aren't fortunate enough to have the opportunity to find a job that "fits" them like that. In short, this is a list of people who don't have callings.
Anyone who is forced to stay at a job they don't like for financial reasons
Anyone who is forced who failed to get the job they wanted (I got cut from the NBA)
Anyone who was drafted by the army
Anyone who got (or got his girlfriend) pregnant in high school
Anyone in prison
Anyone born in America before 1950 except for white men
Anyone who died before reaching adulthood
Anyone born into a caste system
Anyone who was ever a slave in the history of the entire world
Anyone in civilization who was born into an economic class that did not facilitate prioritizing "personal fulfillment" as a criteria for a job
Considering all the people born in the history of the world, the relatively short life of technology and the leisure time it affords, the fact that the "middle class" is a social construct that doesn't even go back 100 years, the state of many third world countries today, and a few other factors...I would say that the number of people who had NO opportunity to fulfill their calling would probably figure somewhere around 99% (unless a lot of people had callings like "Build pyramid by hand").
Steve are you being a little harsh? Are you taking this a little too far? Why yes as a matter of fact I am. But it's only to make a point. I think that God does "Call" people. And a lot of people who use the word "calling" really mean "I like this job a lot and I feel like I get a chance to serve God here." Well that's great. I'm not mad at you. But let's not make guys like me (and all the seniors I know who are graduating) panic because we are afraid we won't find our calling and we might have to settle for a "job." I feel guilty about this sometimes. I hate the idea that I might actually just get a job because it pays money and not because it's where my deepest passion meets the world's greatest need. But then again, if I did, I would probably be in fairly good company
* Just like stewardship and baptize. Go ahead and use these words to talk to a non Christian about how you thought it was a good use of your time to do the dishes before you went to bed. They will think you are speaking Christianese, but you will know that you just have a good vocabulary "I thought it was good stewardship to baptize the dishes in water before bed"
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
disillusion
"Young Adulthood is a time of disillusionment."
No one to my knowledge has ever said this quote but if you want to maybe someday someone would quote you and put a "~" next to it with your name. And after you die maybe even your name and a date after it.
Because I think it's pretty true. There are a lot of things that happen for the first time at this little stage of life I like to call "kinda like being an adult but with less money." Like getting a job, moving out on your own, being able to do whatever you want whenever you want, etc... And as it turns out a lot of it is less glamorous than we had previously been lead to believe. But the point of this post is not to focus on my life (which is actually doing pretty good right now, thanks for asking) but to focus on the idea of disillusionment itself.
We normally associate being disillusioned with negative experiences and sad times. In effect, we have negative connotations with this word. But really, why is that? Because to become disillusioned is to leave behind the illusion and to understand reality.* To become disillusioned is to learn the truth, and in general, I consider that a good thing.
What it generally comes down to is that things in this world are not as good as we think they are and that they will not make us as happy as we think they will. This isn't depressing, its just how it is.
Because we are fallen people. And we are desperately trying to fill the hole in our heart created by the separation we experience apart from God. And we have these illusions that money, success, healthy relationships, security, entertainment, or whatever, can fill this hole and make us complete.
But the truth is these things don't cut it. And one by one as our illusions fade we are able to more fully understand the truth of the matter- that only God will fill us up. So every time you are disappointed or disillusioned, praise God and turn over your expectations to Him.
*I Believe it was Denis Dee Young of Styx who once said "Take me tonight, to the river, and wash my illusions away...SHOW ME THE WAYYYYYYYYYY."
No one to my knowledge has ever said this quote but if you want to maybe someday someone would quote you and put a "~" next to it with your name. And after you die maybe even your name and a date after it.
Because I think it's pretty true. There are a lot of things that happen for the first time at this little stage of life I like to call "kinda like being an adult but with less money." Like getting a job, moving out on your own, being able to do whatever you want whenever you want, etc... And as it turns out a lot of it is less glamorous than we had previously been lead to believe. But the point of this post is not to focus on my life (which is actually doing pretty good right now, thanks for asking) but to focus on the idea of disillusionment itself.
We normally associate being disillusioned with negative experiences and sad times. In effect, we have negative connotations with this word. But really, why is that? Because to become disillusioned is to leave behind the illusion and to understand reality.* To become disillusioned is to learn the truth, and in general, I consider that a good thing.
What it generally comes down to is that things in this world are not as good as we think they are and that they will not make us as happy as we think they will. This isn't depressing, its just how it is.
Because we are fallen people. And we are desperately trying to fill the hole in our heart created by the separation we experience apart from God. And we have these illusions that money, success, healthy relationships, security, entertainment, or whatever, can fill this hole and make us complete.
But the truth is these things don't cut it. And one by one as our illusions fade we are able to more fully understand the truth of the matter- that only God will fill us up. So every time you are disappointed or disillusioned, praise God and turn over your expectations to Him.
*I Believe it was Denis Dee Young of Styx who once said "Take me tonight, to the river, and wash my illusions away...SHOW ME THE WAYYYYYYYYYY."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Another Brick in the Wall
I just read a book with an ending almost as shocking as Ender's Game. Which brings me to my next point. Why haven't you read Ender's Game yet?
I've learned something by being at a private Christian college for five years. Education is expensive. But I have also learned that people expect you to find your vocation and calling. What is calling you might ask? I had a Christian Ed. Proff once tell me that calling was "Where your deepest desire meets the world's greatest need."*
I sincerely hope that the world's greatest need involves me playing final fantasy and eating Reeces Pieces
Like I'm assuming at least one other Christian feels, I find myself overwhelmed by guilt and a feeling of inferiority because I don't think I've found a fulfilling and significant vocation that is "good enough" to justify all the faith and encouragement that has been invested in me by loved ones throughout my life.
But then it occurs to me, "when did we become obsessed with finding a calling?" Is that mandated by God? I think not.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we take jobs we hate and put as little of ourselves into our work as possible. But we (I) need to stop acting like we (I) will only be living half a life if we (I) don't find that right vocation out there that is both at once the worlds greatest need and our (my) deepest passion.
Only in Western Industrialized societies would we care about crap like this. In the distant past women kept the home and men did whatever the heck their dads did. Were these people a disappointment to God because farming or shoe making was a way of life that contributed to society and supported their families rather than met their inner longings for ministry?
Even today in some cultures almost everybody is a farmer. If we told them some peoples were dance instructors for a living they'd be so confused.
If I told the people in my cohort that I was in higher ed because I liked it and I was good at it but it wasn't some burning passion or deep calling I think they would probably tell me to try a different field after I graduated.
I really want to be open to God's voice, but He has never spoken to me as clearly as He apparently speaks to some people. So until he does I suppose I'll just have to exchange hours of my talent and service in a useful way for monetary compensation in a manner that I enjoy. Hope that's enough for all you purists out there.
*I believe this guy was quoting fredrich Beuchner
I've learned something by being at a private Christian college for five years. Education is expensive. But I have also learned that people expect you to find your vocation and calling. What is calling you might ask? I had a Christian Ed. Proff once tell me that calling was "Where your deepest desire meets the world's greatest need."*
I sincerely hope that the world's greatest need involves me playing final fantasy and eating Reeces Pieces
Like I'm assuming at least one other Christian feels, I find myself overwhelmed by guilt and a feeling of inferiority because I don't think I've found a fulfilling and significant vocation that is "good enough" to justify all the faith and encouragement that has been invested in me by loved ones throughout my life.
But then it occurs to me, "when did we become obsessed with finding a calling?" Is that mandated by God? I think not.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we take jobs we hate and put as little of ourselves into our work as possible. But we (I) need to stop acting like we (I) will only be living half a life if we (I) don't find that right vocation out there that is both at once the worlds greatest need and our (my) deepest passion.
Only in Western Industrialized societies would we care about crap like this. In the distant past women kept the home and men did whatever the heck their dads did. Were these people a disappointment to God because farming or shoe making was a way of life that contributed to society and supported their families rather than met their inner longings for ministry?
Even today in some cultures almost everybody is a farmer. If we told them some peoples were dance instructors for a living they'd be so confused.
If I told the people in my cohort that I was in higher ed because I liked it and I was good at it but it wasn't some burning passion or deep calling I think they would probably tell me to try a different field after I graduated.
I really want to be open to God's voice, but He has never spoken to me as clearly as He apparently speaks to some people. So until he does I suppose I'll just have to exchange hours of my talent and service in a useful way for monetary compensation in a manner that I enjoy. Hope that's enough for all you purists out there.
*I believe this guy was quoting fredrich Beuchner
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Not Larry (The Drive)
Chevalier
I'll admit right now that this idea is ripped off and I don't remember from whom. So imagine a citation here.
Part of "The Drive" is to be something that you are not. And those of us in my generation think this is the worst sin imaginable. They say "don't let the man keep you down, believe in yourself. It doesn't matter what anyone else says" Well they are morons and probably watch a lot of American Idol.
But wanting to grow into something you aren't yet isn't a bad thing. I could want to be like Larry Crabb and write great books that help a lot of people. Or I could try to be more like people I actually know. I could try to be like my professor, Tim Herrman, who is one of the most sincere and compassionate people I know. Or I could try to be faithful and determined like Sam from Lord of the Rings.* And doesn't being a "Christian" mean being a "Little Christ?"
So I'm not arguing against trying to better yourself. Having good role models and admiring qualities that honor God is a good thing. But I often times find myself beat down when comparing myself to others. Try as I might I'm just not going to be the next Larry Crabb, the next Tim Herrman, or even the next Samwise Gamgee.** But I think we Christians could waste our whole lives away not being people instead of being ourselves.
When I get to Heaven I think the real disappointment will not be God asking me "Why were you not Larry?" but rather "Why were you not Steve?"
What am I suggesting then? "Be comfortable with your sins"? In the words of the apostle Paul "May it Never Be!"
What then? I suggest at least owning your own strengths and weaknesses. You can make your strengths stronger and your weaknesses less weak, but you can't pick and choose them. Guilt is a sign of an impossible goal, and chosing to be another person is an impossible goal. So if your goal is to be Larry Crabb or Jim Tressel or Mighty Mouse or Moses you are going to be one guilty dude. I will not be driven by that.
*I propose that Sam is actually the protagonist of that series....discuss amongst yourselves.
**My ol' Gaffer never took much to blog writin' but I figure he's a reading this right now.
I'll admit right now that this idea is ripped off and I don't remember from whom. So imagine a citation here.
Part of "The Drive" is to be something that you are not. And those of us in my generation think this is the worst sin imaginable. They say "don't let the man keep you down, believe in yourself. It doesn't matter what anyone else says" Well they are morons and probably watch a lot of American Idol.
But wanting to grow into something you aren't yet isn't a bad thing. I could want to be like Larry Crabb and write great books that help a lot of people. Or I could try to be more like people I actually know. I could try to be like my professor, Tim Herrman, who is one of the most sincere and compassionate people I know. Or I could try to be faithful and determined like Sam from Lord of the Rings.* And doesn't being a "Christian" mean being a "Little Christ?"
So I'm not arguing against trying to better yourself. Having good role models and admiring qualities that honor God is a good thing. But I often times find myself beat down when comparing myself to others. Try as I might I'm just not going to be the next Larry Crabb, the next Tim Herrman, or even the next Samwise Gamgee.** But I think we Christians could waste our whole lives away not being people instead of being ourselves.
When I get to Heaven I think the real disappointment will not be God asking me "Why were you not Larry?" but rather "Why were you not Steve?"
What am I suggesting then? "Be comfortable with your sins"? In the words of the apostle Paul "May it Never Be!"
What then? I suggest at least owning your own strengths and weaknesses. You can make your strengths stronger and your weaknesses less weak, but you can't pick and choose them. Guilt is a sign of an impossible goal, and chosing to be another person is an impossible goal. So if your goal is to be Larry Crabb or Jim Tressel or Mighty Mouse or Moses you are going to be one guilty dude. I will not be driven by that.
*I propose that Sam is actually the protagonist of that series....discuss amongst yourselves.
**My ol' Gaffer never took much to blog writin' but I figure he's a reading this right now.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
death of a "dream" (the drive)
I have an announcement. But before I make it let's put a disclaimer on it. I can think of at least two readers who are going to say "WHAT? SAY IT ISN'T SO!" But read until the end.
It has always been one of my life goals to write a book. and I have decided recently that I am going to remove that from my list of goals. I am hereby giving up on the dream of writing a book.
GASP! SHOCK! AWE! I know I know. But here is why. To be honest, I don't have a great passion for writing. I have a great passion for being read. And I don't have a great passion for a job well done, I have a great passion for being recognized. And let's be honest I do NOT hear God calling me to write a book.
Some (me) might say, "But Steve, you have such insight and wisdom coupled with humor that makes it all so readable. You are doing a service to the world and using your gifts by writing a book. Don't waste your gifts! God will be sad!
Perhaps true...perhaps. But sincerity check. Lets say I had an awesome book idea and right before I wrote it pretty much the same idea came out from another author. Would I say "oh good, these people are learning this wisdom and growing in God" or would I say "Crap that jerk stole my idea?" In case you can't guess the answer it's the second one.
Also I feel this uncomfortable sense of "should." And I want to be wary of this. Sometimes god uses an uncomfortable sense of "should" to prod us in the right direction. But also lots of times we convince ourselves we "should" based on expectations that don't come from the Father.
The "should" I'm talking about makes me feel guilty when I come across a quote or source or idea that would fit well in "my book" and I'm not cataloging it. I'm guilty because I'm not working on it, and becuase I have no structure for my ideas. Writing a book out of guilt for not doing so because you are gifted and you have somehow set up an expectation for yoruself that you "should." That sounds like a good reason to undertake a project.
Does this mean I wont ever write a book? No it does not. But it does mean that I'm not going to spend the rest of my life acting like I'm in the pre-writing stages of something that is going to change the world. In another time I might just sit down and write a book, but I hope I'm able to manage doing it with a little more humility than you generally get out of Steve Conn. Why the change of heart? Because I took a look at what was driving me and decided it wasn't something that needed to be obeyed.
It has always been one of my life goals to write a book. and I have decided recently that I am going to remove that from my list of goals. I am hereby giving up on the dream of writing a book.
GASP! SHOCK! AWE! I know I know. But here is why. To be honest, I don't have a great passion for writing. I have a great passion for being read. And I don't have a great passion for a job well done, I have a great passion for being recognized. And let's be honest I do NOT hear God calling me to write a book.
Some (me) might say, "But Steve, you have such insight and wisdom coupled with humor that makes it all so readable. You are doing a service to the world and using your gifts by writing a book. Don't waste your gifts! God will be sad!
Perhaps true...perhaps. But sincerity check. Lets say I had an awesome book idea and right before I wrote it pretty much the same idea came out from another author. Would I say "oh good, these people are learning this wisdom and growing in God" or would I say "Crap that jerk stole my idea?" In case you can't guess the answer it's the second one.
Also I feel this uncomfortable sense of "should." And I want to be wary of this. Sometimes god uses an uncomfortable sense of "should" to prod us in the right direction. But also lots of times we convince ourselves we "should" based on expectations that don't come from the Father.
The "should" I'm talking about makes me feel guilty when I come across a quote or source or idea that would fit well in "my book" and I'm not cataloging it. I'm guilty because I'm not working on it, and becuase I have no structure for my ideas. Writing a book out of guilt for not doing so because you are gifted and you have somehow set up an expectation for yoruself that you "should." That sounds like a good reason to undertake a project.
Does this mean I wont ever write a book? No it does not. But it does mean that I'm not going to spend the rest of my life acting like I'm in the pre-writing stages of something that is going to change the world. In another time I might just sit down and write a book, but I hope I'm able to manage doing it with a little more humility than you generally get out of Steve Conn. Why the change of heart? Because I took a look at what was driving me and decided it wasn't something that needed to be obeyed.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Drive
I've been thinking lately, which APPARENTLY due to my "Strength's profile" what not a surprise. but anyway, it has lead me to a series of ideas that will be expressed via blog in the next few days. For those of you who are waiting for a humorous account of my near death experience, I'm waiting for pictures.
I'm tired of being "Driven." The motivation to do, strive, achieve, and be. I think we need to give it up to an extent. It's true that many people are in need of some motivation, but I find myself currently surrounded by people who continue to strive for the next level. this isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but I find it a rather unfulfilled quest. "Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity.*" At least that's what the author of Ecclesiastes said.
This isn't necessarily bad, but I think it depends on the motivation. Is it a true desire for excellence? Is it a desire to help others? Is it the joy of overcoming obstacles? Or is it because we've just been conditioned to think of this type of lifestyle as "success" or because we just "should" be this way? Are we driven by internal forces or external forces, and can some of us really not tell the difference?
We LIKE the words "driven" or "drive" because they speaks of power and control. But who says "I'm a driving person"? No one. We are "Driven." Driven by what? You're not the driver...you're the CAR. If you are driven by something you are controlled by something.
Not all driving forces are bad. Love, mercy, God, justice, compassion, empathy. Being Driven isn't bad. But what, my friends, is driving you?
*In this sense vanity = meaningless
I'm tired of being "Driven." The motivation to do, strive, achieve, and be. I think we need to give it up to an extent. It's true that many people are in need of some motivation, but I find myself currently surrounded by people who continue to strive for the next level. this isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but I find it a rather unfulfilled quest. "Vanity, Vanity, all is Vanity.*" At least that's what the author of Ecclesiastes said.
This isn't necessarily bad, but I think it depends on the motivation. Is it a true desire for excellence? Is it a desire to help others? Is it the joy of overcoming obstacles? Or is it because we've just been conditioned to think of this type of lifestyle as "success" or because we just "should" be this way? Are we driven by internal forces or external forces, and can some of us really not tell the difference?
We LIKE the words "driven" or "drive" because they speaks of power and control. But who says "I'm a driving person"? No one. We are "Driven." Driven by what? You're not the driver...you're the CAR. If you are driven by something you are controlled by something.
Not all driving forces are bad. Love, mercy, God, justice, compassion, empathy. Being Driven isn't bad. But what, my friends, is driving you?
*In this sense vanity = meaningless
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Honor God Today
So if you are anything like the typical young college student and/or the typical adult, and/or the typical adolescent and/or the typical child you are often times faced with difficult situations in which it is hard to know what is right. Since I believe most of my readers fall into at least one of these categories I think that this may be relavent to you.
I've heard so many people my age say they want to honor God, that they want to make the "right decisions" and that they don't know what to do because they don't know what God wants for their lives. Unfortunately I know this feeling all to well.
"God" we say, "I want to do your will, but I have no idea what it is!" Do I go to grad school or get a job? Do I join this ministry, make this move, take a job offer, start a relationship?
Well I have the answer to all your questions. But it would be too easy if I just told you, so have fun figuring it out yourself.
But here's the point. At my stage of life I feel like I'm faced with these sort of decisions about every six months. And every decision seems to have terribly far reaching implications, and they are overwhelming because they are too big for us. Well, the truth is that it is too big.
I can't predict the future, and I can't deal with the entire future all at once. It IS overwhelming. Only God is going to be able to handle the future. But if I take it one day at a time, I think I can handle that. Whenever faced with something difficult, and I'm paralyzed by fear, I'll stick with the one standby plan that always works. I'll ask "How can I honor God today?"
I've heard so many people my age say they want to honor God, that they want to make the "right decisions" and that they don't know what to do because they don't know what God wants for their lives. Unfortunately I know this feeling all to well.
"God" we say, "I want to do your will, but I have no idea what it is!" Do I go to grad school or get a job? Do I join this ministry, make this move, take a job offer, start a relationship?
Well I have the answer to all your questions. But it would be too easy if I just told you, so have fun figuring it out yourself.
But here's the point. At my stage of life I feel like I'm faced with these sort of decisions about every six months. And every decision seems to have terribly far reaching implications, and they are overwhelming because they are too big for us. Well, the truth is that it is too big.
I can't predict the future, and I can't deal with the entire future all at once. It IS overwhelming. Only God is going to be able to handle the future. But if I take it one day at a time, I think I can handle that. Whenever faced with something difficult, and I'm paralyzed by fear, I'll stick with the one standby plan that always works. I'll ask "How can I honor God today?"
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