I just returned from a brief vacation away from the everyday responsibilities of life. One of my friends emailed me, that like so many others; he is off on vacation as well. My friend is a really busy man and clients and others often eat up his time outside forces, so he was really looking forward to being able to determine how to invest his time during his trip. We normally meet together each week to simply share insights and challenge each other to think beyond the thoughts, which are easily grasped. I assume in an attempt to maximize his intellectual productivity he asked me to prod his thinking in a few thought-provoking areas. I thought we might all benefit from sifting these through our mind while sitting in the shade some this summer. Respond to any or all you like:
- In the world of push and pull information, can spiritual formation be fostered through push information? If so how?
- At least in recent history there has consistently been 24 hours in a day. So why have we become so busy? What has changed and is it a good thing? If not why don’t we change it back?
- What is the biggest hindrance to people’s spiritual growth? What is your own personal obstacle to growth?
- Does “Discipline” enhance or dilute an act as an expression of love and devotion?
5. Does behavior reveal or shape character?
I’ll skip #1…
2. When I get too busy for the 24 hour day, it tends to stem out of a need for validation or worth. I wonder if this is an image of the culture. Are the individual members of our culture so in need of love and attention that they try to find it in success? I really believe mass business is a reflection of individual souls.
3. Themselves. My own wounded need for worth and respect.
4. I think it enhances and sustains an expression of love. Through the hard times, sometimes it takes discipline to continue to pray and seek God’s face.
5. Hmm…Both? They’re coincidental. You can change your behavior out of a desire to change character, but a behavior reveals character. At the same time, if you continue a negative behavior, you may very well find that your character has unexpectedly changed. Paradox. Hmm…
Jim Morrow
St. Marys UMC
http://jimmorrow.wordpress.com
Comment by jimmorrow — July 5, 2006 @ 6:24 pm |
1. I personally need the info pushed at me. I have a hard time finding it on my own, but can do good things with it if it is there.
2. We are busier because we choose to be — no other reason. I need to learn to say, “No”.
3. I grow when I am around spiritual people. When I am not, I see no growth. I need constant exposure and encouragement. Is that a lack of faith? Nope, don’t think so — it is how God made me.
4. Discipline is a broad word. We sll need some, but too much removes the benefit.
5. Reveals. Shaping occurs when we examine our own or even others behavior. When we do not look back and examine, we cannot decide how to move forward, and sometimes that takes stretching ourselves, which molds character.
Comment by Dennis Rice — July 14, 2006 @ 8:23 pm |