I was up somewhat early today to do a podcast with Sam Reimer, a sociologist at Crandall University. His point for small churches is that our people are living in a different world! Their locus of authority is themselves. No one else. The individual picks and chooses what they will believe and act upon. Before I give away too much – consider looking at this podcast.
One of my favourite authours – whom I have read over the years starting a decade or two ago. Sage advice in this paragraph with a link to the full article.
As the story is told, renowned ethicist John Kavanaugh once traveled to India to meet with Mother Teresa for spiritual guidance and advice. He visited her ministry in Calcutta (now called Kolkata, the original Bengali name) and set up a time to speak with her. She asked him “What can I do for you? How can I pray for you?” to which Kavanaugh said, “Please pray that I might have clarity about the future and what God wants me to do.” Mother Teresa surprised him by saying, “I will not pray for you to have clarity.” Kavanaugh was taken aback. He had not expected her to refuse him like that, so he asked why not. She said to him, “You do not need greater clarity. You need greater faith. That’s what I will pray for.”
https://davidtimms.wordpress.com/2023/12/04/clarity-or-faith/
Building for Joy!
First off, I think that is a great title for how we should live our lives. Second, I’ve just finished skimming (I have read, but am still processing) an article on building joy in a digital world. The authors suggest that there needs to be a positive outcome of our use of the digital. So, for those presenting digital content: what is your motivation, how intense is the experience, do you present with integrity, how normative is the content and how dependent are users on external factors (good and bad)?
Sounds like a lot of esoteric considerations. But, perhaps there is something to this approach to the digital experience which better suits a Christian approach to life. As I say, I’m just on the outer edges of this! You can follow with me – here is a research paper that outlines these thoughts – https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/33895/3/978-1-958651-47-6_17.pdf
My latest article in our local social media/newspaper (Kindersley Social – November 15, 2023)
Measuring Man’s Misery
Touring carries its treasures but also its tragedies.
This last while has been a great opportunity to see relatives, visit friends and make new acquaintances. I’ve seen the snarl of traffic on one of the nation’s superhighways and I’ve travelled the expanse of land with no one near. In the next few weeks I’ll continue my journeys.
While the visiting was exciting, the discussions around tables often tended towards news of the world and news of local happenings. In an archaic phrasing, the longer we talked the more we were “measuring man’s misery”.
Words and Wounds – Victimization and Mental Health issues have been highlighted. There was a saying – “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” I think we have come past that Stoic approach to life. There is a place for recognition of real harm done to others. But have we become so sensitive that we are no longer resilient in the storms of life, blown by every wind of offense?
Wisdom and Truth – Perhaps I’m just around the wrong people? The more we talk at table the more I’m sure we want truth and wisdom. The toll has been taken by a society that has many truths (one for each person) but no standard truth (using the word “standard” as a description of a truth that can be applied to all people). We have democratized truth to such an extent that there is no “true truth”. And everyone does what is right in their own eyes. How long until tyrants reign with power – fully justified by their own truths in a world that has no leg to stand on to combat that truth?
War and rumours of War – I don’t need to emphasize this table discussion item. One year since a war in Ukraine, weeks of Israel and Gaza in the news. Oh, and then there are those wars that have transpired for years in our globe but remained unspoken or unreported. Death and destruction are way too normal. Power and control take their thrones through bloodshed and violence. I’ve seen too much! When will the world find peace?
Will-fulness and Service – Years ago I read a book called “The Selfishness of America”. Enjoying a meal with friends and family reminds me: we live surrounded by the “me-ness” of the world. Whether it is discussion of family breakups or gossiped feuds, or perhaps the whispers of the lack of volunteerism within local institutions – I feel like we have lost the desire to work together, to serve others, to be humble. How can a world serve only themselves and live to see another day?
And then the conversation turns to Artificial Intelligence, the lack of proper privacy, the physical ills of a degraded health system and so much more. Even where people have tried to remain off grid, the whispers float into their atmosphere. We don’t need to step outside our daily life to be able to measure man’s misery.
I’m a believer in better things! There is a saviour from evil, a healer from harm. In a nation and a world with multiple pathways to peace, I walk the path of Jesus of Nazareth. Even around dinner tables I have frequented lately not everyone would agree with me. For the sake of those I “table” with, and those I am around, I sincerely raise this prayer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be demonstrated in a heart of peace and good will towards others.” In this, I would follow Jesus.