so i want to *try* to blog once/week. preferably on thursdays. thursdays are chris' long days at work, which means i have a day to myself to entertain said me in whatever format i see fit. good time to free-associate.
awhile back, i wanted to write about a passage that showed up twice recently. usually when the same piece of scripture pops out at me, it makes me take notice... G, that you?
1 peter 3:13-17, an 'accidental' passage preached and a sunday school lesson taught. i had some thoughts, and since i was lazy at the time and didn't bother to write them down then and there, i forgot what i learned. :P even so, i want to at least write the passage down in case it shows up again... third time's the charm? (it *will* show up soon i think too, our new sg is going thru 1 peter :P)...
the passage talks about doing good, for good > bad. even if you suffer when you do good, it's ok. your conscience is clear, god knows/jesus went thru the same thing, so that he can bring us to god... in the same way, when we continue to do good, and suffer for it, it becomes a more compelling testimony for christ for others.
and... "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (v.15)...
i guess i always feel slightly unprepared to give an answer. if i had to give my testimony in 3 mins, can i do it with well?...most of the time, i feel rusty. i haven't engaged in the difficult questions non-christians naturally ask in quite some time. the last time i did, i took a bit of a verbal beating. it felt too much like verbal sparring. that verse *always* convicts me b/c i need to train more...
the other part of the passage talks about doing "good" and not caring if you suffer for it spawned some thoughts too.
maybe it's the childhood trauma of being called a "goodie tooshie" by no less than other christian kids -- the disdain and loathing that came with the term branded in me something that does *not* want to be equated with *that*
and i admit, a lot of times, i don't particularly like "christian" things trying to make it into mainstream culture... it feels too cheesy, contrite... seems to lack depth/reality. this could be music, film... books. (i recently read a christian fiction book chris lent me, it's actually not bad but an interesting genre to begin with). i smell what i feel like is propaganda a mile away, and if i groan inwardly and recoil, these things couldn't stand a chance with non-christians... then i wonder, what is that is so offensive about these things?
what is it about 'christian' songs/movies that make it seem so sub-par? is it that it's outdated? is it the lack of talent/skill? (maybe some of that :P)... we aren't supposed to play "catch up" with popular culture (pop culture by definition should be worldly), the gospel is relevant w/out needing to be diluted to be accepted... there needs to be dialogue. a cultural-exchange, so to speak.
i don't really know, but the passage and these things clicked together for the first time. maybe it's okay to be good and cheesy (to be less critical/proud/judging). ppl should celebrate "goodness" whatever form it takes... but even if they hate you for being good/mock what is a good, you don't stop doing good, you continue to do your thing and put them to shame for boohooing you in the first place. suddenly seeing ned flanders in a different light. what's wrong with cheese? haha :p
anyway... i'm running late to put my pot on to roast in time for dinner. so, off i go...be back in a week~
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
introversion & creativity
i watched a video on fb today, one of those TED video clips, where this lady was championing the virtues of introversion to a big audience. i gathered she wrote a book about it, and must be somewhat famous/successful to make it as a TED speaker.
to summarize, she believes (and maybe has research to prove it :p) creativity happens more in solitude/contemplation/quiet, that western society has not placed as much value on introversion when compared to extroversion, a society where "personality"//charisma //extroversion seems to have more pull, than a quiet, reflective stance.
this value has shaped education down to the very detail that classrooms are often now set up these days, tables in groups for team-work and cooperation, versus the straight desks/rows of the antiquated past. while she repeatedly explains her goal is not to say introversion is better than extroversion in society (we need both + traits exists on a continuum), but that introversion should not be dismissed as less valuable of a trait.
she hypothesizes that think-tanks can be more effective if individuals come up with their own solutions to the problem (instead of thinking in a group). she mentioned something about how mirror neurons (something i know a thing or two about) naturally adapts to social cues of others, and we automatically begin to be swayed by the most dominant individual of any group, whether or not their idea/opinion actually is any good (something i don't really know about, but is an interesting idea to entertain!). maybe responsible for the bay of pigs? ;)
and introspection, times of solitude (things introverts are excellent at)... actually brings deeper thoughts and new ideas... in other words, helps foster creativity... b/c each person thinks about the same thing in just slightly different terms, some thinking-alone might just be the key. then you come together and discuss findings to solve problems... anyway, that's a rough and not very comprehensive summary.
my reaction:
-i like being an introvert. i like thinking about stuff. connections. life-things. people/relationships. i like reading and exploring fictional worlds.
-it's nice to have someone out there working to balance the whole introversion/extroversion thing; for sure, i have felt out-of-place in a society that values extroversion... mostly, i have not learned how to be assertive (and is still in the process of learning how to be more assertive :p). my most frequent comment from report cards through grade school has to do with how quiet i am. a label that i don't quite particularly enjoy or hold true of myself.... although, i suppose if i am the teacher observing myself, i would say the same thing :P still, nice to have some encouragement to just be myself *caveat: she differentiates btw shyness (fear of social rejection) and introversion.
-yes, i miss being creative. and those creative juices tend to flow when i have more time on my hands and i'm by myself. being married means having someone within reach/easy access most of the time... that's great for companionship, but i do notice that i've blogged less (and ate more) both times when i'm dating than when i'm single. ha! if being married is like perpetually dating (it is! :D), then i better maximize the apart times :p
so... i mean, it's not to say too much about anything but that i do miss writing and being introspective, i do have a lot to say and find writing the easiest way still to do it... and i'm going to try again to have more alone time, to devote to writing/reflecting/coming up with things only may's brain can come up with :-)
there, i feel a little bit more myself already :-)
to summarize, she believes (and maybe has research to prove it :p) creativity happens more in solitude/contemplation/quiet, that western society has not placed as much value on introversion when compared to extroversion, a society where "personality"//charisma //extroversion seems to have more pull, than a quiet, reflective stance.
this value has shaped education down to the very detail that classrooms are often now set up these days, tables in groups for team-work and cooperation, versus the straight desks/rows of the antiquated past. while she repeatedly explains her goal is not to say introversion is better than extroversion in society (we need both + traits exists on a continuum), but that introversion should not be dismissed as less valuable of a trait.
she hypothesizes that think-tanks can be more effective if individuals come up with their own solutions to the problem (instead of thinking in a group). she mentioned something about how mirror neurons (something i know a thing or two about) naturally adapts to social cues of others, and we automatically begin to be swayed by the most dominant individual of any group, whether or not their idea/opinion actually is any good (something i don't really know about, but is an interesting idea to entertain!). maybe responsible for the bay of pigs? ;)
and introspection, times of solitude (things introverts are excellent at)... actually brings deeper thoughts and new ideas... in other words, helps foster creativity... b/c each person thinks about the same thing in just slightly different terms, some thinking-alone might just be the key. then you come together and discuss findings to solve problems... anyway, that's a rough and not very comprehensive summary.
my reaction:
-i like being an introvert. i like thinking about stuff. connections. life-things. people/relationships. i like reading and exploring fictional worlds.
-it's nice to have someone out there working to balance the whole introversion/extroversion thing; for sure, i have felt out-of-place in a society that values extroversion... mostly, i have not learned how to be assertive (and is still in the process of learning how to be more assertive :p). my most frequent comment from report cards through grade school has to do with how quiet i am. a label that i don't quite particularly enjoy or hold true of myself.... although, i suppose if i am the teacher observing myself, i would say the same thing :P still, nice to have some encouragement to just be myself *caveat: she differentiates btw shyness (fear of social rejection) and introversion.
-yes, i miss being creative. and those creative juices tend to flow when i have more time on my hands and i'm by myself. being married means having someone within reach/easy access most of the time... that's great for companionship, but i do notice that i've blogged less (and ate more) both times when i'm dating than when i'm single. ha! if being married is like perpetually dating (it is! :D), then i better maximize the apart times :p
so... i mean, it's not to say too much about anything but that i do miss writing and being introspective, i do have a lot to say and find writing the easiest way still to do it... and i'm going to try again to have more alone time, to devote to writing/reflecting/coming up with things only may's brain can come up with :-)
there, i feel a little bit more myself already :-)
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