Awareness | christopherhildreth

Archive for the ‘Awareness’ category

Karen Armstrong – Religion:A Force for Harmony

September 29, 2008

Karen’s words are so fitting for how we face the uncertainty around us. She begins by shedding light on the birth of the idea of “believing”. She then moves toward the Golden Rule as a global religious effort. She recognizes the desire for people around the world for change. Typically, the established church would rather be right than follow the words of many spiritual sages to “do unto others as you would have them do to you”.

She posits that people want to be religious, and that religion should be a force for harmony; that the Golden Rule should be global: do unto other countries as you would have other countries do unto you. That we should move beyond toleration to appreciation of the other. Listen, really listen and see how we can have a positive impact by living out the Golden Rule. This has incredible impact on how we continue “doing” church, indeed on how we continue living at all.

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Categories: Awareness, Belief, Cultural Ideas, religion

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Relationships: Life’s Ultimate Building Block

September 27, 2008

In the scientific realm there are discussions about a substance called Black Matter. This material is theoretically what connects the universe and holds everything together. Perhaps in the theoretical field the answer is Black Matter, but in the sociological field the substance that holds all of us together is Relationships.

Relationships are unique things. A relationship doesn’t just happen because two people get to know each other. A true relationship happens when two people are willing to talk and listen to each other. The skill of listening actively to each other means letting life open up in front of you. It means having truthful conversations that give vocal opportunity to everyone and each of those who have spoken feel that they have been heard because the listeners are listening well.

Imagine the last time you were in a conversation. How would you have felt if you had been able to contribute and had felt that everyone listened to your perspective? People sometimes sit quietly in discussions because one or two people are talking non stop about what matters to them. When one takes a break the other begins. This continues several times and then everyone leaves saying that “we had a good meeting”.

The truth is that valuable insight was lost because of the inability of the leader to listen instead of feeling the need to be heard him or herself. The biggest key in conversations is for us to come together as equals. In conversation there is no king and there are no peons – there can’t be for true conversation to take place. When we shed our titles and roles and simply come together as human beings, we are able to hear from varied perspectives. Though a certain answer may not come out of meeting (it seldom does), it should increase our levels of curiosity as something to be relished and sought after. The more we listen, and listen well, the more holistic a perspective all involved will have.

This next week seek out having conversations. but not so that you can be heard. In the conversation, provide plenty of time to listen completely so that the person talking feels they are being heard. You’ll find that if you do that, you will also have plenty of time to talk about the things that you care about.

Before the Internet, email, faxes and phones – even before paper and pen, human beings communicated by having conversations. Building relationships through conversations is the only way true change will ever happen.

Categories: Awareness, Influence, People, Rhythm
Tags: communicating, conversations, relationships

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World Wide Day of Play

September 27, 2008

Something amazing has happened today. Nickelodeon, Noggin, The N and NickToons have all gone dark. From noon until 3:00pm nothing will be shown on these channels. For the fifth consecutive year Nickelodeon is brokering its influence for a Worldwide Day of Play. This is the first year that all Nickelodeon networks and their comparable websites will effectively shut down in order for kids around the world to get out and play.

There have also been over 1,000 play event scheduled around the United States. This was designed as a way for Nick to encourage kids to fight obesity. Before and after the blackout, each network will show programming that is health-related. Nick has partnered with several organizations this year including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers and Big Sisters along with the National Football League.

What a great opportunity to for our kids to see that there is more that they can do, and that influence can be used in positive ways to motivate us toward better goals and a better life.

Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life, People, Sports, Vision
Tags: world wide day of play

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Alzheimer’s Memory Walk

September 25, 2008

Alzheimer’s is a disease that is increasingly affecting more and more of us. Today it is uncommon to find someone who does not know of a friend, family member or acquaintance who either has known, knows or is going through themselves this terrible disease.

The most difficult part of Alzheimer’s is that when we lose memory, we lose the path of our life. When the signposts of the past are gone, we truly become lost. To watch as someone you love enters into a place of lostness within themselves is a decidedly helpless position to find yourself in.

My friend, Mike Scarborough, has set up a team to participate in the Georgia Alzheimer’s Memory Walk this November 1st. I encourage you to click here and either become part of the team, donate or both. Significant advances are being made in the search for a cure, but more help is needed. Together we can indeed make a great difference in the future!

Categories: Awareness, Belief, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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Neighbors

September 19, 2008

I met our new neighbors today. Harry and Nancy are the newest residents in our quaint little subdivision somewhere in Middle Georgia. This morning I walked out to the car to hear the sound of Canadian Geese overhead. I would have shot, if I’d have had my gun, but then I would probably have a new assignment in a small cell.

Harry and Nancy are older that I am and have lived through some amazing world events. I was taken by how much we have to gain by investing into knowing the people who live next to us. In a world where, according to a new report, social networking is more popular now than on-line porn, out inter connectivity to actual humans in our vicinity is less and less.

Fred Rogers used to ask me every day if I would be his neighbor, and each day that I did, I learned new and interesting stuff. Take some time and get to know a neighbor. The wealth that it will bring to your own life will surprise you.

Categories: Awareness, Life, Me, People

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Wine….and more wine!

September 17, 2008

In lieu of the comments from Sunday’s message I feel compelled to bring up the story of Jesus and the wedding in Cana. In spite of the church’s need to display Jesus as a party pooper, he was nothing of the sort. Jesus was, in fact, the kind of guy you would want around if you were to throw a party.

Jesus’ ability to turn water into wine, although very handy, is not the reason I chose to give my allegiance to him. Jesus embodies hope and gives me a reason to wake up in the morning. He sees all of life as a sacred celebration. This story is full of implications that when life seemingly runs out of joy/hope/peace/meaning (wine) he is there to bring it back. When everything seems lost and the party is doomed, look for Jesus like Mary did and he’ll bring the abundant life back to your party.

The biggest thing this story can teach us is seen as John mentions that it took place on the third day. The third day is typical of resurrection, and if so, the first day would be the wonderful – everything is OK good Friday. The second day would have to be those liminal spaces where we are anything but settled, but the third day is significantly different. With Jesus’ response, the third day becomes a day filled with expectancy and hope.

For us the significance of this story has to go to the jars of water. Prepared for a sacred service they are transformed into functional jars for the service of the people. How much of our own religious world is filled with sacredness. So much so that we overlook it’s functionality to service. If the service needs to change from Sunday to Thursday let’s change it. If we need to sit on the floor instead of pews, let’s do it. If we need to have a true conversation instead of a talking head let’s do it. Certainly in the church there are issues of practicality, but ultimately everything that we do has the ultimate end of bringing people into the abundant life Christ has given to us. Everything is a means to that end – not an end to itself.

Mary knew that the party didn’t have to end. She knew what resided in Christ -and so do we. As we look toward our future, let our response be that of Jesus. Crank up the music, tell the baby-sitter you’ll be late, smile and grab your partner, this party isn’t near over. The best really is yet to come!

Categories: Awareness, Belief, Context, Creativity, Influence, Kingdom of God, Life, religion

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The Wizard of Oz

September 12, 2008

Tonight we watched The Wizard of Oz as part of Family Night. I love the movie, even though there are some who think any mention of witches, wizards and teleportation will send one directly to the Bad Place. Some things jumped out at me while we were watching.

One thing is how funny the scene is when the apple trees start pelting the travelers with apples – who knew trees had a gruff voice? Seriously, it is hard for me to just watch a movie. I’m more intrigued than ever before as to how the contextualization of the time period the movie was made translates with the time period in which it is being watched. (Only really great movies are able to bridge this chasm)

1 – After the Scarecrow is talking about not having a brain, Dorothy asks him what he would do with a brain if he had one – and the Scarecrow is quick to have an answer. Sometimes we allow not having something to become a reason we can’t get anything done, when the truth is that we probably wouldn’t get anything done even if we did have what we are whining about.

2 – Dorothy immediatly invites the Scarecrow to join her on her journey. She is not the least bit proprietary about her journey. She welcomes anyone who wants to go with her. Many times we get too defensive when we resist help in situations where an openness to others would quickly solve a problem.

3 – The Tinman longs for a heart, but his song delivery is the most emotional of all of the travelers.

4 – They think the Wizard will fix everything, but find out that the answers to their questions and desires are within them.

5 – Glenda tells Dorothy that she has had the way home all the time, but that she couldn’t tell Dorothy because she wouldn’t have believed it. How true is this? If we would allow ourselves to live a life filled with trust instead of suspicion, we could take leaps in our development as people and humans.

Next time you watch a film, open yourself up to the possibility of seeing more than just a plot line and actors. Within the power of storytelling is the answers to life itself.

Categories: Awareness, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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BHAG’s

September 2, 2008

Big Hairy Audacious Goal’s (BHAG’s) was introduced to the world by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in 1996. This was one concept included in their groundbreaking book, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.

The essence is that it is important to have incredibly outlandish goals in a corporation – and I would interject, in your own life. We can come up with doable goals, but when we go for the out-of-site big, huge ideas they are more likely to happen than the mediocre ones.

One reason for this, I think, is that the competition is smaller. In the land of mediocrety there are millions of people, but in the land of extreme success there are fewer who reside there. I’ve read that it is much easier to raise millions than it is to raise a few hundred thousand for the same reasons.

Take some time and think of some huge incredible goals for your life. One thing is for certain, if you never set out to do the impossible, you won’t even achieve the possible.

Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Goals, Influence, Leadership, Vision

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Georgia Football is Back!!!

August 30, 2008

Can’t say how good it is to have college football back. Can’t say how bad it is not to be able to see the first game -thank God for radio and Larry Munson! As expected the Dawgs beat Georgia Southern, but more than that is the expected ethos – the feeling – of college football. Saturdays now have even greater purpose and a place that felt so good last year is now back like an old friend gone on an extended vacation.

Don’t want to get too sappy so “Time out”. Check out your life and try to identify the different “ethos” you experience. What is the ethos of work, family, church, school, etc? If you like it, great, relish it and enjoy it. If you don’t, think of ways you can transform the ethos to be one that feels like a comfortable T-shirt. Don’t think that because you aren’t “the Boss” that you can’t change the feel of your workplace. Every time you change something about yourself, you change everything about your relationships with colleagues, friends and family.

GO DAWGS!

Categories: Awareness, Cultural Ideas, Life, Me, Sports

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“21”

August 29, 2008

Tonight I finally saw the movie “21” with Kevin Spacey. I had heard a lot of things about the movie – mostly positive. It ended up being a good movie. The plot was well delivered, although at points it was predictable. The setting of Las Vegas was great as well – you can’t go wrong with Vegas!

What struck me was a line by Spacey’s character Mickey. After the group of MIT students had perfected a strategy, Mickey says to the main character, who is still a little nervous and stressed, “just let the car ride itself”. The idea that we need to enjoy the success of strategies that are working is something that I know I struggle with. It is not easy to “let the car ride itself” because I want control of it.

The reality is that the only control I have is merely an illusion of control.

Once you have done all that you can, sit back and enjoy the ride. It will be thrilling and sometimes scary and probably won’t end up how you thought. However, you will have stories and memories that would not have existed if you had not tried. Each moment we are creating experiences and memories that have not existed before. Instead of letting them happen, take part in the creation of those experiences – take part in creating your future!

Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Influence, Life

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