Today's sermon at church focused on the Gospel of Mark 6:30-34 where Jesus tells his apostles to, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." The pastor used a cell phone as a prop and reminded us all too well, just how ridiculous we sound or look at times when observed by others as they pass us in their cars, or stand next to us at the checkout counter of the grocery store as we gab on in more often than not, meaningless conversations. It seems that we are so preoccupied with the latest gadgets and the necessity to know what someone is doing at every moment, that we don't even realize how little quiet, let alone rest we have in our day.
Last weekend, my husband and I took a rare trip to a movie theatre to watch a new release we wanted to see on the "big screen". After paying $15.00 to get into the matinee and another $5 for various munchies to eat during the much anticipated event, we finally found two empty seats in a very crowded auditorium. Before the previews even began, a young girl in front of us began talking quite loudly on her cell phone, oblivious to those around her and seeming to ignore the couple accompanying her. The conversation mercifully came to an end, but then the TEXTING began, and it continued through the ENTIRE movie, creating a huge distraction for both my husband and myself, that we were unable to enjoy the movie. This experience in the movie theatre is not uncommon. We see it and hear it everywhere we go. There is very little quiet and very little rest in our world today.
Mark's gospel goes on to tell us, "When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd." Have things changed much in the 2,000 years since the gospel writer penned these words? Should we have pity on the person in the restaurant who is having more of a conversation with the person on their cellphone than the one sitting across the table from them? How about people who are more comfortable texting or instant messaging than they are with a face to face conversation? How has technology interfered with our sensitivity to quiet and restfulness?
When I am lucky enough to find the time to get away to a beach or a mountain lake, I love leaving my laptop behind and my cellphone in the car. As much as I love and embrace technology, I am also very cognizant of the effect it can have on me. The fact that I keep a Blog should be evidence of this. So as I listened to today's sermon and laughed at the silliness of my behavior at a few grocery store check out lanes, I only pray that someone will have pity on me the next time they see me talking on my cellphone at a stoplight.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Today a large moving truck came and packed up the contents of my son's life. At 26 and single, he was accepted into the Air Force as a JAG officer, and such privilege allows for his belongings to be professionally packed up and moved to his next assignment. After living in several apartments over the years, he has managed to whittle down his belongings into 13 boxes and a few odds and ends. It took less than two hours for the two men to carefully pack it all up and load it on their truck.
As I watched them pack and load everything, I couldn't help reflect on how long it might take them to pack up all of my belongings. After 50 years on this planet, I have certainly accumulated more than 13 boxes and a few odds and ends. There are some things I've been toting around since I was a young girl living at home with my parents. Why? What possesses me to carry this "junk" into each new home my family and I move into? Why am I so unwilling to part with it?
I can't help but think of the words from Matthew 6:19-21 that says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." What can we learn from these words?
A few years back, a good friend of mine returned to her three children things that she had lovingly packed away for years; old report cards, pictures they had drawn, stories they had written, all carefully "stored treasures" to be delivered at the right time when they would be cherished and appreciated by her now grown children. When she returned home a few hours later after making a grocery store run, she discovered a large bonfire to which the contents of her stored treasures were being slowly incinerated. It appeared that her idea of treasure did not match those of her children.
I learned quite a lesson from this. The old dolls, toys, books and coins that were precious to me, were really only valuable to those on eBay that have the same interest. So I'm making a few bucks and getting rid of some old junk (treasures). It's true...one man (woman's) trash is another ones treasure.
As I watched them pack and load everything, I couldn't help reflect on how long it might take them to pack up all of my belongings. After 50 years on this planet, I have certainly accumulated more than 13 boxes and a few odds and ends. There are some things I've been toting around since I was a young girl living at home with my parents. Why? What possesses me to carry this "junk" into each new home my family and I move into? Why am I so unwilling to part with it?
I can't help but think of the words from Matthew 6:19-21 that says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." What can we learn from these words?
A few years back, a good friend of mine returned to her three children things that she had lovingly packed away for years; old report cards, pictures they had drawn, stories they had written, all carefully "stored treasures" to be delivered at the right time when they would be cherished and appreciated by her now grown children. When she returned home a few hours later after making a grocery store run, she discovered a large bonfire to which the contents of her stored treasures were being slowly incinerated. It appeared that her idea of treasure did not match those of her children.
I learned quite a lesson from this. The old dolls, toys, books and coins that were precious to me, were really only valuable to those on eBay that have the same interest. So I'm making a few bucks and getting rid of some old junk (treasures). It's true...one man (woman's) trash is another ones treasure.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What does "qualified" really mean?
Recently I received a query in the mail for a job that opened up in my Diocese. It was addressed to me and inside was a brief description of the job, for which I consider myself highly qualified. But what does the word "qualified" really mean? It would appear that there is a huge difference of opinion among employers and potential employees.
I hear quite often from many frustrated people searching for a job. It appears that they are caught up in a Catch 22 situation. They do not qualify for the job because they lack "experience" and they can't get the experience without the job. But what about all of us out there who have plenty of "experience", it just happens to be in the form of volunteerism, self mastery or self taught or our learned life experiences. Not all experiences garner a paycheck, and yet this really is what employers are asking. Never mind that the experiences one has makes them a better and more viable candidate for the job. And if given the courtesy of an interview, the employer might actually find that out, but NO...an interview is never granted. They are rejected without ever having been given an opportunity to be heard, an opportunity to convey their talents and abilities.
Scenarios like this make me think of the words in the Bible that tell us, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." How many people in history have been cornerstones? Famous authors like Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Emily Dickinson, and the beloved Dr. Seuss, all of them were rejected and turned away from publishing companies. Or scientists and inventors like Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. But even today there will be hundreds of men and women who WILL make their mark in this world, somehow and someway, but they are being REJECTED because they lack the kind of "experience" employers only think they're looking for. For those companies out there who have hired a seasoned employee, there is usually little regret. Jim Collins, in his book, Good to Great mentions outstanding companies who have learned to think outside the box and often hire these "seasoned" employees that most companies overlook and it has made all the difference in their companies.
As I work with schools, business and churches, I try to get them to understand the benefits of utilizing these type of people who have a lot to offer. As volunteers, the schools, business and churches love them, because they know them to be reliable and give a hundred percent. But when it comes to paying them for the work done, most of these same organizations are reluctant. When you think about it, does it really make any sense at all? It's a mentality that should be encouraged to change, especially in religious organizations. Too many of them have forgotten that Jesus started his ministry with men who were not qualified. They had no experience whatsoever, but look what they accomplished.
I hear quite often from many frustrated people searching for a job. It appears that they are caught up in a Catch 22 situation. They do not qualify for the job because they lack "experience" and they can't get the experience without the job. But what about all of us out there who have plenty of "experience", it just happens to be in the form of volunteerism, self mastery or self taught or our learned life experiences. Not all experiences garner a paycheck, and yet this really is what employers are asking. Never mind that the experiences one has makes them a better and more viable candidate for the job. And if given the courtesy of an interview, the employer might actually find that out, but NO...an interview is never granted. They are rejected without ever having been given an opportunity to be heard, an opportunity to convey their talents and abilities.
Scenarios like this make me think of the words in the Bible that tell us, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." How many people in history have been cornerstones? Famous authors like Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Emily Dickinson, and the beloved Dr. Seuss, all of them were rejected and turned away from publishing companies. Or scientists and inventors like Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. But even today there will be hundreds of men and women who WILL make their mark in this world, somehow and someway, but they are being REJECTED because they lack the kind of "experience" employers only think they're looking for. For those companies out there who have hired a seasoned employee, there is usually little regret. Jim Collins, in his book, Good to Great mentions outstanding companies who have learned to think outside the box and often hire these "seasoned" employees that most companies overlook and it has made all the difference in their companies.
As I work with schools, business and churches, I try to get them to understand the benefits of utilizing these type of people who have a lot to offer. As volunteers, the schools, business and churches love them, because they know them to be reliable and give a hundred percent. But when it comes to paying them for the work done, most of these same organizations are reluctant. When you think about it, does it really make any sense at all? It's a mentality that should be encouraged to change, especially in religious organizations. Too many of them have forgotten that Jesus started his ministry with men who were not qualified. They had no experience whatsoever, but look what they accomplished.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Summertime
I love my summers. Especially since I get the chance to sit outside and read whatever I want to read. Although my son has been bugging me for the last several years to read the Harry Potter series, I just can't seem to find the time to explore that area. What can I say? I'm not much for fiction.
This summer I have been focusing on the Malcolm Gladwell books, Jim Collin's, Good to Great and David Meerman Scott's, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. Having the summer off from retreats and substitute teaching gives me time to plan ahead for the next year, and boy do I have a plan.
My goal is to invigorate some of these "new" ideas into the organizations that I work with. These books are ripe with content and what to do to not only market who you are or what you do, but how to get the word out about who you are and what you do. I especially want to invigorate these ideas into many of the churches I come in contact with. Recently I had a conversation with a member of a church in my area. When I told her about some of the ideas in David Meerman Scott's book, she actually said to me, "We don't need any of that crap, we have the Holy Spirit!" I can't believe this attitude permeates in a church in the 21st century, and yet it is much too prevalent in many churches today.
Recently I had the opportunity to hear Mike Hayes, author of Googling God, speak at a luncheon to pastors and lay persons about the importance of understanding how technology affects our world today. He reminded us that this is not our parents nor our grandparents world and we need to understand and utilize social media if we are to attract the youth. So I'm digging in and embracing the challenges of teaching this old dog some new tricks. I think I have my work cut out for me, but I will have to take it one day at a time and one organization at a time.
This summer I have been focusing on the Malcolm Gladwell books, Jim Collin's, Good to Great and David Meerman Scott's, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. Having the summer off from retreats and substitute teaching gives me time to plan ahead for the next year, and boy do I have a plan.
My goal is to invigorate some of these "new" ideas into the organizations that I work with. These books are ripe with content and what to do to not only market who you are or what you do, but how to get the word out about who you are and what you do. I especially want to invigorate these ideas into many of the churches I come in contact with. Recently I had a conversation with a member of a church in my area. When I told her about some of the ideas in David Meerman Scott's book, she actually said to me, "We don't need any of that crap, we have the Holy Spirit!" I can't believe this attitude permeates in a church in the 21st century, and yet it is much too prevalent in many churches today.
Recently I had the opportunity to hear Mike Hayes, author of Googling God, speak at a luncheon to pastors and lay persons about the importance of understanding how technology affects our world today. He reminded us that this is not our parents nor our grandparents world and we need to understand and utilize social media if we are to attract the youth. So I'm digging in and embracing the challenges of teaching this old dog some new tricks. I think I have my work cut out for me, but I will have to take it one day at a time and one organization at a time.
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