Cultural Ideas | christopherhildreth

Archive for the ‘Cultural Ideas’ category

We Love an Underdog

March 5, 2008

With all of the political talk going around, it is impossible not perceive someone as the underdog. Americans love the underdog. Maybe because as a country we were an underdog in taking on the British, maybe it’s because many who came to this country during the first floods of immigration were, in their own countries, underdogs. Whatever the case, nothing gets our emotions going more than to have a public race that includes an underdog.

The interesting thing is that a person or cause can move from front-runner status to become an underdog almost overnight. With the flood of instant information and blogs going straight to your in-box, your opinion can change about a candidate or issue rather quickly. Such it has been in the Democratic race for the nomination. Both candidates have tasted the cool wind of the front-runner and the bitter dust of the underdog.

Considering the race is nowhere near over it will be a sure bet that roles will change. When the nominations are set in several months the roles will begin again adding John McCain to the roll call.

What can we learn from this? I think we can settle in the fact that in out lives we may face being an underdog at times, but the wave of popularity will come round again and we will find ourselves afloat, at the front of the pack. Never underestimate the underdog, but don’t despair if it happens to be you.

Categories: Cultural Ideas, Influence

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“Hold on Loosely”

March 4, 2008

38 Special had a song on the 1980 album, Wild-eyed Southern Boys, titled “Hold On Loosely”. I heard this song on the radio a few days ago and it has stuck with me. If you’ve been reading the blog, you know that one of the areas I am drawn to is the connection between traditional Christianity and its transition into the post-modern world. Specifically, the way that certain aspects of the religion are being augmented, jettisoned or distinctly transformed from their pre-modern, Enlightenment Era definitions.

This song describes, for me, the context with which we must hold all religious beliefs. In one part of the lyrics the song says, ” Just hold on loosely, but don’t let go / If you cling to tightly, /you’re gonna lose control.” Definitely a thought worth pondering in relation to religion and the give/take struggle we often face.

We must hold on to our beliefs, but not so tightly that when it becomes apparent our beliefs contradict truth and reality we find it difficult or impossible to let go. This is not to say that faith has no place – it certainly does – but only when the faith is based on truth. So-called “blind-faith” is no faith at all.

Categories: Belief, Context, Cultural Ideas

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Ben Franklin

March 3, 2008

“The sting of rebuke is the truth.” These words were spoken by Ben Franklin and could not be more true today than they were back in the infancy of the American nation.

Rebuke is something none of us like. To be told we are wrong offends our ego and bruises our pride. However, like Franklin stated, when the comments carry the ring of truth, their pain seeps deeper into our being. We know our own mistakes and hidden failings; and often seek out ways of burying them in the dust of time. When a fault or character flaw – specifically one we thought we had dealt with – is pointed out by a friend or colleague, there is a pain that defies explanation.

The true response can only be honesty at our personal lack and a resolve to continue working on the issue or problem. The great thing about we humans is that we were not created perfect, nor can we be. As the saying goes, “to err is human” is correct. Our imperfections display our beautiful humanness.

Ben had his own issues, but we still choose to remember him as a great American statesman. If you fail, choose to remember the “great” things about you, and if someone close to you fails, choose to remember and help them to remember the beauty of our frailty and their “great” moments as well.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Strengths

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From Center to Side

March 2, 2008

Once upon a time the very center of the idea of Christianity was to “get to Heaven”. Books were written, messages preached and people have actually died on the premise that this idea of getting into Heaven was the center of the gospel.

The institution of Christianity is currently undergoing a broad evolution in terms of the concepts that have drifted from center to side and those that were either on the side or not on the grid at all moving to center.

The concrete idea of “Kingdom” is moving to center in many places on the landscape of Christianity. This is different than the Kingdom Now movement of a few years ago. This current idea has a foundation of experiencing the fullness Christ promised in living this life. There is an intense focus on “being” Christ to the world. The areas that are leading in influence and the areas that are being influence by global culture tend to be areas that “mainline” denominations would not typically be associated with.

This has to be separated from the Emerging or Emergent church. There are many “white steepled churches” that are actively involved in bettering their community and taking lead roles in the “greening” of their towns and cities.

The key, and I talk a lot about this, is that this process is not stopping and hasn’t stopped. In the future the things that we have placed in the center of our belief will be replaced by things that are being placed on the sides today.

The essence is that this great fermenting of Christianity is a living activity, and as long as we are having conversations about what belongs in the center and what should be moved to the side, the dream of the community of Christ is still going strong.

Categories: Belief, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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Leap Day

February 29, 2008

Got a note from my brother-in-law and had to convey the idea. It has to do with “Leap Day” an aditional day added to bring balance to the calendar. His point was that we all need to incorporate the idea of a “Leap Day” concept in each of our lives.

This is a great idea and a good wake up to those of us who have difficulty turning work off at the end of the day or on the weekend. We need balance in all of our relationships and connections.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas

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God Is a Salesman

February 28, 2008

Picked this book up a few days ago and started to read. The concept is centered around the fact that in a world where we need proof and trial studies and perfomance data, we take the idea of a God without any of these things.

The author’s point of view is that for God to be able to have that many followers with so little in the way of actual “stuff” to show, God has to be the best salesman out there. Since in our lives we find ourselves always selling something, we should take some pointers from God and let the observations influence the way we live and express our lives.

I’m about halfway through and have to say that I am enjoying the book. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s small size gives you the “light at the end of the tunnel” to keep you motivated to finish.

I intend to utilize many of the ideas listed in the book.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas

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Where Do We Go From Here?

February 27, 2008

Currently I am involved in several different conversations concerning issues related to religion, philosophy and culture. I have to assume that I am not the only one. It seems to me that there would be many more who would be entertaining conversations centered around religious, philosophical or cultural issues. The big question is “What then?”. What do you do in the aftermath of a particular conversation that leaves you reeling?

Obviously simply because we may differ on different subjects and issues, I nor you would change a held opinion based on one dialogue – difficult or not. I think it is important to hold onto our beliefs and opinions somewhat loosely, perhaps I’ll discuss that idea in a later post, but for the time being we should look at the basic foundational architecture of our belief systems. If we view our beliefs unedited by personal preference, it is possible that we may learn to take and add intrinsically useful ideas and concepts to our “repertoire of belief”.

In other words, when ideas that seem to be diametrically opposed to your current faith path, don’t be too quick to dismiss them – they may find a permanent lodging and become a great source of help and inspiration.

Categories: Belief, Context, Cultural Ideas

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The Power of Words

February 23, 2008

Just a comment here about the power that is contained in words. During this campaign season we are hit from both sides with words words words. Every candidate is seeking to separate themselves from the other and distinguish themselves as THE candidate to vote for.

In the process there are many words that flow between and about the people running for office. In a few months our ears will have become numb to the talking points of each person and we will collectively try to advance time to November. Before we endure this and leave it with nothing, lets take this time to examine the value of words and their influence on us and those around us.

Words can help us or hinder us. In each of our lives we have the choice which words to us in every situation of life. We are the authors of our future as we dictate into history our lives. What we choose can have long lasting consequences, as we will see in the campaign.

Just take the next week and see if your words change because of paying more attention to them and their power. As we wake up each day the world awaits our voice. The world longs to hear what we wish for each day and doesn’t hesitate to bring it to pass.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas

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The Importance of Being Grateful

February 22, 2008

Gratitude is an overlooked virtue in today’s society. With so much speed and a barrage of information, the courtesies of another era seem to have passed. What has not changed is the appreciation with which gratitude and other virtues are received. We cannot deny the positive power of a smile or a kind uplifting word sent our way. Even in the middle of a terrible day, a grateful person has the power to trump all negative experiences and bring a fresh joy to our life.

Do not underestimate the power and importance of gratitude on others and the power of a grateful heart upon yourself. When you seek to find the things that you can be grateful about, you weed through the goings on of the day and reap the positive. Too often we sift through the day and find only negative things to deem worthy of commenting on.

Instead look at the things to be grateful about – things that we are blessed to have – things that bring happiness to our lives.

Categories: Cultural Ideas

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Propose Solutions

February 18, 2008

Quit asking for polls and opinions and begin to propose solutions. I your life, and mine, there are ample opportunities to hear how other people want things done. Advice is on every corner and in every in-box. Though there may be shortages of some things in our world, there is no shortage of other people offering their reasons as to why you should do things their way.

We can become weak in our abilities to make decisions and stand for positions we agree with. Having an unpopular opinion is not the same as having The Plague. The easy route is to find the “pulse of the people” and follow it’s every whim and movement. The difficult route – and it has always been the difficult way – is to believe in something and stand for it.

Whatever you believe in, one day it will not be popular. One day your ideas won’t be en vogue. One day you will have to choose to maintain the course of your belief or change course based on someone else’s belief.

Stay your course and be a person who offers the way – who offers solutions to others problems. Be the person people go to when they don’t know what to do. Propose a solution, and I promise you’ll find people following you. I know this because people who propose solutions are rare individuals – be a rare kind, disregard popular opinion and offer solutions.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas

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