Cultural Ideas | christopherhildreth

Archive for the ‘Cultural Ideas’ category

“Everything is beautiful”

February 5, 2008

In a previous post I mentioned the scripture in Ecclesiasties 3:11 where everything is described as having beauty in its own time as a characteristic. I wanted to revisit this. It is difficult to look at situations we share and those that appear singular to us and use the word, “beauty” to describe them.

It is not beautiful to lose a job or loved one. It is not beautiful to go through divorce. It is not beautiful to experience pain. The key phrase I think we have to examine is “in its time”. The scripture is not saying that everything is beautiful all the time. It is saying that there are things that appear once to be horrific and grotesque, but at a later time can bring beauty and even appear beautiful themselves because of the joy that has resulted from them.

In simplistic terms, there can be no appreciation for peace without the terror of war. We live under a constant tension that lets us experience both the good and the bad. As the narrative explains, Adam and Eve took of the fruit. From that taking came the knowledge of both good and evil. I think the blessing in the curse is that they were able to truly enjoy the good and also see the devastation of the bad.

Regardless of current circumstances, everything will find itself beautiful in its own time.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas

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Practically Letting Go: Part 2

February 4, 2008

Hope Part 1 helped some of you guys out. Here’s another tried and true method to my madness, and a way to free up unproductive time.

Dialogue is important in what I do. The decisions that I make are made using information from multiple sources. I talk to people, read books, listen and watch various media outlets in order to formulate a strategy for visual and content success. Each series requires individual attention and frequent adjustment. The point is – I have a lot to do in a short amount of time. This is coupled by the fact that the process is repeated every 4-5 weeks.

One of the greatest Idea Assets that I have found is to: NOT GET INVOLVED IN MEANINGLESS DIALOGUE. I put that in caps to arrest your attention. This is critical. If you are like me, people like to talk to you; and you like to talk to them. Problems arise when you need to focus on the Big Idea.

There are people in all of our lives who simply want to talk. They don’t offer any additional input into a situation, they don’t help you make a decision, and they certainly don’t contribute to a completion of a project. Love these people, but don’t get involved in meaningless dialogue with them. Be straightforward and firm. Your time belongs to you, and only you can give it away.

Utilize this one principle and loads of time will open up for you.

Categories: Cultural Ideas, Influence, Me

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the margins

February 2, 2008

I have always been struck by the fact that Jesus was drawn to people who were in the margins of society. His focus tended to be on those who were off the center, or even “off the grid”. It wasn’t as though he happened to see them and went over to them. In many cases he deliberately sought them out. He didn’t talk to them after he felt guilty for not talking to them. In stark contrast to our first reactions to those different than ourselves, he went to them as though he had never entertained the thought of passing them by.

I wish I could say that I have never passed people by – but I have. I have seen people, but been busy with something and have walked by. I have seen people and hoped they didn’t look at me so I wouldn’t feel guilty about not talking to them. I wish I could say that every needy face I have seen was respected and responded to, but I can’t. Why am I drawn to the glittery center and Christ to the margins? Why does centrality suit me, but the edges suited Him?

More than anything this year I want to become the friend of the margins. I want to gaze into the face of the marginalized and see myself in their eyes. I want to respond and “do” for them what Christ “did”. I want a real palpable love to come forth for them and when it does, for it to change me.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Goals, Me

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shift

January 29, 2008

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that in every facet of life there is a shifting going on. Most obvious is the shift we see in the political arena. It is felt not simply because of the different issues being discussed, but with the way in which the dicussions are being held. I completely agree that it is a wonderful time to be alive. The global events that we are seeing are happening at a different rate and with different outcomes than would have occured even a few years ago.

Whether we agree on the issues like global warming, economy, and war, the one thing we can all admit is that there is a shift. A shift both in thinking and execution; in action and effect; in intent and purpose. Like never before we have a great opportunity to utilize our personal influence and create great change with small actions. When we live each day with purpose and passion we effect each day.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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C. S. Lewis

January 20, 2008

Found this quote and thought it fit great with the previous post – it’s long but poignant

“In a narrow place between two rocks there came to meet me a great Lion. The speed of himwas like the ostrich, and his size was an elephant’s; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eeyes, like gold that is liquid in the furnace….In beauty he surpassed all that is in the world, even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be [king] of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome. But i said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of Thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reason of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, “Lord is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and tash are one?” The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him, for I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it it I who reward him. And if any man do cruelty in my name, then though he says the name Aslan, it is tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed accepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yes I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and truly. For all find what they truly seek.”

from C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle pp. 164-165

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

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What is the Kingdom?

January 17, 2008

No way am I going to try to completly answer this question. I just want to add some thoughts to it. When we discuss “the Kingdom”, what are we really talking about? Christians tend to talk about heaven and the after-life when the topic of the Kingdom is brought up. I’m not going to necessarily object to that, but I do thing there is more to it.

Again, pages and pages could be devoted to this issue alone, but there is a concern that I have. What if we have missed a central area and traded it for a fringe theory? I believe that the calling we have been asked for by Christ consumes much more than just the after-life. I think it is also more than just getting people ready to go to heaven.

Many of our modernistic approaches to Christianity cannot be found in Scripture. We give altar calls, but Jesus didn’t; we tell people they have to go to church, but Jesus didn’t; we tell people things they have to do and stop doing to be able to follow Jesus, but He didn’t.

I’m firm in my thought that there is much more to the Kingdom of God than we have allowed to “meet out eyes”.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Kingdom of God

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Political Key

January 14, 2008

With the primary season firing up, I thought it would be a good thing to remember that though we differ on a multitude of political issues, we can be united in agreeing that ultimately God is looking out for the best for our country and our world. We have a wonderful opportunity to watch, see and experience all that God will be doing in the days, weeks and months ahead.

All that being said however, vote your conscience. Let your vote be your vote and not because of outside influence. Will we pick different people? – certainly – Politics is an interesting thing to see, but with a right perspective we can move on together toward a better tomorrow.

Categories: Cultural Ideas, Influence

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Exponential Impact

January 12, 2008

I’ve talked a lot about the difference between the singular and pluralistic feel some in the spiritual community have. Some are self oriented (singular) in their approach and practice of religion and spirituality. On the other hand, some are “others” focused (plural) in their view of life and its experience. My view is that we look at what happens to us as we live our lives.

When an event occurs in our life and we respond to it, our influence on others has an “addition” effect. We tell someone to our left or to our right or both. In that example now 2 or 3 people know of the event. This is how many view spirituality. “Go tell” is what we have been programed. We need to “add more people to the fold” kind of talk.

Realistically, the knowledge of the event travels additionally and exponentially. You tell a few, who tell a few, who tell a few, and before long everybody has heard some version of the original story.

We need to live with an exponential view of life. We should understand that our actions and words have the exponential effect of ripples in a pond. This is an enormous ability for the positive and the negative. Let us live our lives to exponentially increase the influence of the positive in our lives and others.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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The Environmental Church

January 9, 2008

Much has been discussed about the environment and the environmental movement. As in any cultural discussion, the church must have a place in the dialogue – in fact the church should be directing the dialogue. So many times the church has been at the back end of scientific discussion. Whether it is because we have an affinity to hold on to outdated comfortable rhetoric or because we have an illusion of power and don’t want to escape that illusion, I do not know, but what I do know is that a conversation has begun and we need to respond.

In the modern era we walked sheepishly behind culture and added comment to it. As things became more and more defined we began to adjust and enjoy being able to disect God in a seminary and teach about Him in detail. As the time changes, this simplistic, cut-and-dry approach is failing to work on everything from light and time to our own perception of these events. Spirituality is no different. Today there is a movement toward a more organic and visceral approach to spirituality. Whether it is called Postmodern or Emerging, the change of direction is apparent.

The church of tomorrow will look and feel distinctly different to the one we have today. There will still be steepled churches that meet the demand of spiritual consumers, but there will also be a new place. I see an environment that embraces both spirituality and mission; a meeting of service and belief. There is no difinitive snapshot of this gathering, it is and will be as maleable as it’s context requires. The key element to expect is a decrease in the individual aspect of experience and a meshing of combined experience.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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Watching Moses

January 7, 2008

I love the Old Testament stories of Moses. He led the children of Israel through many disheartening situations; he delt with revolt and rebellion; but through it all he eventually took them where he had wanted to take them for many years. At the end of his life, he ended up only seeing the Promised Land.

I believe that this could be a parallel to what many in the religious community are experiencing. We have a tendency, at least in America, to consume. We buy things we don’t need because we are told we “need” them, but we know we really don’t have any need or use for them. The same is true for spiritual experience. We have become “spiritual consumers”. We want to feel something or hear something or be given something, but our response, most often, is not to let these things flow out of us to others. By in large we simply consume more; in effect wasting spiritual experience for the sake of self-gratification.

Don’t get me wrong, spiritual experience is wonderful, but if it leads to nothing more than an over active appetite for more of the same, I fear we have missed the point of these experiences. If anything we should walk away from these experiences knowing how much we are all connected in the spirit, not with a singular point of view that amplifies our self view. When we approach the spiritual with an attitude of emptiness in order to be filled, we experience the truth. If we come to experience and then use the experience to lift ourselves, we have made a mistake.

These experiences, if they are true, lead us closer to God. As we near Him we embrace the oneness of spiritual things. When we abandon the self, we embrace our real self. “To live, we must die.” I do not intend to simply watch the great things of God, I intend to be actively involved with them. I hope that you too will desire to truly experience and not simply consume.

Categories: Context, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Me

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