Thinking
Do you ever get sick of thinking about stuff?
I'm a bit of a theoretical kind of person. I tend to try to build frameworks for thinking about particular things... and to break down problems into solvable chunks. Then try to sort out each piece, one at a time.
I've been thinking pretty intensely of late... without necessarily having a good reason to. I tend to spend a lot of time going over thing that have happened, or trying to solve the 'big' problems of life... generally the ones that don't have solutions. I generally find that the more I try to break them down, the more complicated they seem to get... and the more overwhelming they seem to be.
I've spent a fair bit of time and energy over the last year thinking about some difficulties that have been faced by my church community. Churches are funny places, particularly when people who carry significant amounts of influence in the day-to-day administrative stuff relocate to other places and other churches. It generally leaves a leadership gap that results in a lot of discussion... and often a bit of head clashing... as people try to influence, and adjust to, a new status quo. Mostly in terms of who gets to make the practical decisions in running programs like youth groups, etc. Particularly when long-time, paid leaders leave... the responsibilities generally fall to the volunteers who generally consider each other to be equals (or at least should). It's probably classic team dynamics regardless of the setting, as different people bring their perspectives to the table about how to shape different things that happen.
I've been pretty challenged by that process I have to say. I've grown up going to the same little church in the suburbs for my whole life... and while my faith is something that I feel that I own independently of that particular place... the considerable amount of time that I have spent being involved in my church means that changes like this have significantly affected a lot of the things that I do with my time... and a lot of the relationships that I have with the people in those situations.
I also spend a lot of time thinking about the future. I reckon that's something that can be a bit unhealthy if you do it too much. I kind of want to know the answers though. I'd have to say that losing some of the familiarity in such a large part of my life has prompted those questions.
So, I have some questions for you, my many thousands of blog readers:
1. How far ahead to you think in terms of 'your future'?
2. What are the things that are most important to you, in terms of what you believe you want your life to reflect?
3. What would make you feel at least somewhat uncertain or insecure if you woke up tomorrow and it was no longer part of your life?
4. Have you ever had an experience that made your plans for the future, or a sense of continuity in the present, less certain?
5. What do you do to unwind when things seem a bit intense and possibly lacking a clear or immediate solution?
I'm a bit of a theoretical kind of person. I tend to try to build frameworks for thinking about particular things... and to break down problems into solvable chunks. Then try to sort out each piece, one at a time.
I've been thinking pretty intensely of late... without necessarily having a good reason to. I tend to spend a lot of time going over thing that have happened, or trying to solve the 'big' problems of life... generally the ones that don't have solutions. I generally find that the more I try to break them down, the more complicated they seem to get... and the more overwhelming they seem to be.
I've spent a fair bit of time and energy over the last year thinking about some difficulties that have been faced by my church community. Churches are funny places, particularly when people who carry significant amounts of influence in the day-to-day administrative stuff relocate to other places and other churches. It generally leaves a leadership gap that results in a lot of discussion... and often a bit of head clashing... as people try to influence, and adjust to, a new status quo. Mostly in terms of who gets to make the practical decisions in running programs like youth groups, etc. Particularly when long-time, paid leaders leave... the responsibilities generally fall to the volunteers who generally consider each other to be equals (or at least should). It's probably classic team dynamics regardless of the setting, as different people bring their perspectives to the table about how to shape different things that happen.
I've been pretty challenged by that process I have to say. I've grown up going to the same little church in the suburbs for my whole life... and while my faith is something that I feel that I own independently of that particular place... the considerable amount of time that I have spent being involved in my church means that changes like this have significantly affected a lot of the things that I do with my time... and a lot of the relationships that I have with the people in those situations.
I also spend a lot of time thinking about the future. I reckon that's something that can be a bit unhealthy if you do it too much. I kind of want to know the answers though. I'd have to say that losing some of the familiarity in such a large part of my life has prompted those questions.
So, I have some questions for you, my many thousands of blog readers:
1. How far ahead to you think in terms of 'your future'?
2. What are the things that are most important to you, in terms of what you believe you want your life to reflect?
3. What would make you feel at least somewhat uncertain or insecure if you woke up tomorrow and it was no longer part of your life?
4. Have you ever had an experience that made your plans for the future, or a sense of continuity in the present, less certain?
5. What do you do to unwind when things seem a bit intense and possibly lacking a clear or immediate solution?
2 Comments:
hey you! Iw as wondering what you were going to blog again. welcome back. :)
My key to sucess is this little phrase "ignorance is bliss." I tend not to think about things very much, take things on face value and just accept that things are because they are, and move on. Thus I am a very happy person in my life. But I am serverly lacking in the deep, emotional development. So It's probably not the best advice.
I'll have a think about your questions and post them later on (ie, when I am not "working")
Happy Easter!
xox
hey paul, i was in the midlle of attempting to read your entire blog, when i came across this entry, and so i had to comment on it. sinc eno one else answerd your questions.
1. How far ahead to you think in terms of 'your future'?
Being a female, i tend to "dream" or "hope" about my future husbnd, which can be unhealthy.So i guess thats alot far a head. But i dont think thats really serious. i guess one or 2 years. is most common... like where will i be.
2. What are the things that are most important to you, in terms of what you believe you want your life to reflect?
Obviously my belief in God is the mos timportant, i want my life to reflect his character.
3. What would make you feel at least somewhat uncertain or insecure if you woke up tomorrow and it was no longer part of your life?
I think, other than having no God. I'd be most insecure if i had no church family or friends. No church building, and all of the people that used to be there were gone.
4. Have you ever had an experience that made your plans for the future, or a sense of continuity in the present, less certain?
I cant say i've had an experience, but i've had moments of uncertainty about what gods plans for me for the future are, for some reason or another.
5. What do you do to unwind when things seem a bit intense and possibly lacking a clear or immediate solution?
I usually try to forget about eveyr thing thats going on and just do my own thing. Which usually involves pluggin my ipod in and going for a long walk up to a hill some where and laying there for a while...
any way paul, i know the post was ages ago, but i couldn't resist.
Post a Comment
<< Home