Jesus said that "the poor will always be among us." I believe that means there will always be work for us to do!
Christianity
The Coolest
The coolest thing about this is the story being told not that it's being done with ice.
A Very "Cool" Nativity Scene (The Ice Exhibit, Washington, DC -2015)
Merry Christmas!
The Physics of Conflict
in Evergreens
Here we have a quick sketch I've entitled "The Physics of Conflict." I would like to introduce the basic concept first then add details later in this post. I'll start off with a few hints. See if you can figure it out. Please add your thoughts and guesses in the comments section.
Hint #1: O=Offender. T=Truth
Now let's make things a little more complicated...
Hint #2: P=Pride. H=Humility. M=Morality
Any guesses? How about the addition of these details...
Forces at "Play"
What if we equate P (Pride) as a resistance force away from T (Truth) like friction and H (Humulity) as a drawing force towards T (Truth) like magnetism? We could also define M (Morality) as an axis to measure what is agreed upon by O (Offenders) as moral, ethical, altruistic, or righteous.
Have you noticed how the physics of conflict behave very much like those of a seesaw? The closer one moves to the Fulcrum (F) or Truth (T), the lighter they become relative to the person on the opposite side (read Offender). The further one moves away from the fulcrum or Truth (T), the heavier they become to the person on the opposite side. As an Offender rises, there are forces constantly attempting to pull them down (e.g. the weight of there own offenses in relation to those of the person on the opposite side) -very much like an actual seesaw. We call this force gravity in the physical world. After an Offender hits bottom, they must exert some energy or force to overcome the force that would tend to keep them down (i.e. gravity). This is what we do when we use our legs to push off. This is also required to gain lift when we have offended another individual and we desire to gain equal footing with them again. We make some effort. It is not solely dependent on the other person. These forces in play are also based upon your relative position to the person on the opposite side of the fulcrum or Truth. From a relatively higher position, it is easier due to gravity to slide towards the fulcrum/Truth. Humility (H) can work as a lubricant to help facilitate this. Pride (P) can hinder this like an abrasive. From a lower position, is it relatively more difficult to climb up to the fulcrum/Truth -again because of the "gravity of the situation." However, Humility (H) can assist like a magnet pulling one up and closer to the Truth (T). Pride (P) works as an added weight holding one down and back. Reaching Truth from a moral high ground is generally easier than doing so from a lower moral position. Think of Malala, MLK, Gandhi... Christ. Now, It should be easier to see how the forces of Pride (P) and Humility (H) affect how Offenders (O) reach the Truth (T) and ultimately each other.
Those of us who are Christian have been taught this principle in several ways in the Bible. Here are just a couple:
We see Christ as the Truth (T). "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No man comes to the Farther but by Me." John 14:6
So, substitute the symbol of the Cross for the T in our diagram.
Concernig the forces that draw us to the Truth: "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5
Christians are in NO way immune to conflict. Thus, all of the above very much applies to us whenever we find conflict with those around us.
These principles are not just Christian ones; they are universal just like the laws that govern the physics of a seesaw.
Of note, the goal of each Offender in conflict should be to move closer to the Truth not to strive to only be above the other offender. The latter will inevitably cause them to come crashing down which is often a result of self-righteousness or piety. But if each one moves toward the Truth, they will find peace, balance and stability. They will also find closeness and ultimately oneness that many of us would define as a resolution of conflict. This is what those of us who claim Christ as Truth seek. Is it not?
Sow What?
Time, Talent, and Treasure -Another Sow What Concept!
3 in 1 (Time, Talent, and Treasure)
Now for a little math.
If a=b and b=c, then a=c.
Now let's define each variable.
a=Time
b= Money
So, it would come to no surprise that Time equals Money or a=b. But, how would we define c? I submit to you that c=Talent. Thus,
Money equals talent. Or, b=c. So if we go back to math class using the transitive property of equality and a=c then the logical conclusion one must draw is
a=b=c
Or
Time equals Money (or Treasure) equals Talent
Let's see if we can apply this concept.
Let's use time, talent and treasure as they apply to repairs. If one has the talent or skill to repair let's say a car, they potentially could save time and money. The greater their talent, the greater the savings. Now if one lacks such mechanical talents, they would have to shell out money for such repairs and often on a time schedule that is well beyond their control. However if they have access to large financial resources, they could afford to pay for expedited service ultimately saving time. And lastly, if one were to have the luxury of time, they could eventually learn the skill (talent) or earn the money (treasure) to make such repairs. We have all lived this formula out to some degree or another. Can't make it -buy it! Can't afford it -learn how to make it! Can't wait -but it off sale and pay for rush delivery!
A practical summation:
- Time and Talent are needed to make Treasure (money) in order to complete a task
- Little Talent requires more Time and/or Treasure...
- Little Treasure requires more Time and/or Talent...
- Little Time requires more Money and/or Talent...
This concept does not just apply to material goods and wealth but matters of the soul also.
Jesus illustrated concept in the Parable of the Talents -Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28
- 3 men given Talents (money in this case) and Time to use them
- 2 used their Time to invest (sow) their Talents
- 1 wasted his Time and therefore Talent
- The 2 that used their Time and Talents well received more to invest (sow)
- The 1 who did not sow well lost it all
Ultimately, this is another Sow What concept. Sow a Talent over Time reap a Treasure. Sow a Treasure reap the luxury of Time. Sow in Time and reap a Talent. Is not meritocracy and the "American Dream" rooted in this belief? Return of Investment, the stock market, and one dear to my heart, education, are all based on the Time, Talent, Treasure concept - the Sow What concept. I submit that this concept applies to a even greater degree to how and what we sow into the lives around us -our neighbor's gardens if you will.
To whom much is given, much is required. -Luke 12:48
Sow bountifully, Reap bountifully. -2 Corinthians 9:6
Sow What?
Follow the Leader!
in Evergreens
You probably have heard someone espouse the idea that success and failure rest primarily on leadership. You might even subscribe to such a notion. However, have you ever considered just how important "followership" is to success? If a leader cannot inspire people to follow, is he truly a leader? And, if followers refuse to execute a leader's vision, are they actually followers? The truth is that the two are interdependent -inextricably linked. One cannot exist without the other. Each helps to define the other. I submit that the two concepts, leadership and followership are of equal importance.
Clear to see who is the leader. But, who's following.
An application of this concept that I am intimately familiar with is the doctor patient relationship. A physician can use published research, years of study and training as well as the latest diagnostic tools to suggest treatment and lifestyle changes that should be beneficial to her patient. The patient can adhere closely to these recommendations and reap significant health benefits in the form wellness and longevity. Diabetes education and smoking cessation serve as good examples. This is an example of success from good leadership as well as followership. Another scenario would be the patient who refuses to follow the doctor's advice and ultimately suffers from poor health. Regardless of the potentially beneficial leadership provided, an unwilling follower negates any potential good to be reaped. Truthfully, this can be played out in a wide variety of scenarios.
- The physician fails to inform patient of potential health risks and the patient fails to educate himself relying solely on the physician's expertise (poor leadership and poor followership)
- The physician out of fatigue gives bad advice. But, the patient educates herself, seeks a second opinion, and ultimately rejects the bad advice . The patient then goes a step further to educate the physician of her discovery in order to help other patients (poor leadership and good followership ultimately transforming into good leadership).
In all of these examples, both, the leader and the follower, can be held accountable to some degree for the outcome.
Clear to see those following. But, who's leading?
We have seen this concept interplay at its best and its worst throughout history. The masses are often eager to follow a leader as long as they can see where she intends to take them. However, when her vision becomes distant, she soon loses her flock. The flock becomes disillusioned and rebellious. Yet history also shows us that our greatest leaders lead from so far ahead that it may take years for the masses to catch up and ultimately follow suit. And even still, there are those followers who were early adopters, loyal, brave, and farsighted. These faithful few are committed to the vision in such a way that they at various times seek to hold their leaders accountable. In fact, these "followers" will evolve into leaders themselves thus continuing the cycle.
I must add that the concept of leadership and followership is independent of morality and dependent upon arbitrary definitions of success. This of course ties into the "Sow What?" concept. Leaders can inspire great acts of humanitarianism or mass destruction that is up to the followers to carry out. -think Jesus and Mother Teresa versus Hitler and the Third Reich.