Improving thought control

It would be wonderful if each person reading this, and each person writing this, could find a way to consistently control their thoughts: routinely pushing out negative and flawed ideas while also consistently pulling in what is positive, true, wise and good.

Wouldn’t that combination of mental activity improve life on this planet?

For human thoughts tend to influence moods, attitudes, words, and inevitably precede actions – for better or worse. Negative thinking typically arrives long before so many corresponding and undesirable practical outcomes. At the same time, disciplined and positive thoughts tend to fuel constructive progress. Thought control is strongly connected to civilized self-control.

Consider two random options by way of example:

Thought #1: “This computer is driving me crazy, and I feel like throwing it out that window over there.”

Thought #2: “This computer is driving me crazy, but I am going to remain calm and use it to accomplish something useful.”

Okay, most people reading this would not likely pick up their laptop, etc. and launch it in the direction of an open window because of the high cost associated with that decision. So this may not be the best illustration. But thinking about that exciting possibility, and meditating on it day after day, might push a few over the edge. After all, the brain is the control center for the body.

If I may offer another more personal example:

A number of years ago I was living in Vancouver, BC, and driving along in the city one day with my wife. We came around a corner and right there before us was a wide-open stretch of highway; this did not happen very often, if ever, in this crowded and congested urban environment. With the rain softly falling on the asphalt, it instantly felt like a great day for a motor car race.

Foolishly, I quickly turned to my wife and grandly declared my intention to wind the car out on this beautiful stretch of road. Before she had a chance to respond, we went blazing over the hill like contestants in the Indy 500 and of course someone was waiting patiently on the other side. The bill for that thrilling 30-second adventure came in at around $140.

Was it worth it? Probably not.

It is old wisdom that there is no freedom except under the law.

Both scenarios briefly highlight the potentially costs associated with failing to carefully control our thoughts and amounts to stating the obvious. But while the costs may be clear, the core problem is that human thoughts are notoriously difficult to control at the best of times. Blame it on biology, hormones, emotions, genetics, life history, world history, gender, the latest election results, cultural propaganda, too much coffee, the government, or whatever you like.

The problem remains.

Despite the clear benefits, controlling personal thoughts remains essentially in the same category as herding cats. Why attempt to do what is practically impossible? Those confounded furry creatures are just going to do what they want anyway. In saying this, the point is not to communicate wholesale condemnation but rather to openly acknowledge an enduring problem many face.

But of course I am also using exaggerated language here. The nature of human existence may be complicated but most people still have a sense that despite daily internal struggles a measure of self-control is within reach. Barring serious medical and spiritual conditions, thought control and self-control is usually always possible – at least to some extent.

If an unsuspecting ASUS laptop is flung out an open window on the fourteen floor, disturbing a flock of Canadian geese passing by and landing abruptly in the open sunroof of an Audi Q7 SUV; knocking the owner on the noggin and causing her to swerve wildly, crashing through a barrier and then suddenly dropping down fifteen feet into a lake…my police friends may think this pandemonium could have been prevented. Likewise, the stunned owner may feel she was not absolutely destined to be flailing around in the cold water that day swimming with the ducks.

There was another viable option involving intentional thought control.

But how exactly should we attempt to control our thoughts? What type or form of thought control is the ideal? If it is dangerous to be controlled by our thoughts, is it not just as dangerous to control our thoughts if this statement lacks any definition? This would amount to doing whatever you individually or collectively decide you want to do.

To borrow Peter F. Drucker’s words, “It is old wisdom that there is no freedom except under the law. Freedom without law is licence, which soon degenerates into anarchy, and shortly thereafter into tyranny.” Just laws as opposed to arbitrary and oppressive external controls allow a society to thrive. Similar internal guidance also benefits individuals and communities.

Thought control and self-control is desirable and necessary. But it only works if a clear and inspiring standard exists beyond limited personal, cultural, and establishment perspectives.

Facing adversity

Adversity can be overwhelming but it can also function as a friend.

Hmm. What do you think about that statement?

This awkward observation might not seem to count for much when a new difficulty suddenly turns up on the horizon or an old and enduring issue just will not go way. Pointing out the positive potential of a painful situation may sound inappropriate and incredibly insensitive to some. But it’s worth remembering just the same, in the midst of daily life and even during the latest collective crisis or serious personal dilemma.

Hard times can actually help.

While a very small percentage of people on the planet may live, or appear to live, relatively problem-free lives, most mere mortals will have to face one perplexing form of adversity after another culminating with the daunting experience of death. Isn’t that an encouraging thought? Sure, there is more to life than endless struggles and difficulties. But hardship is still present more often than not whether we like it or not; it’s part of the ancient package.

People that acknowledge God may be tempted to think that this good and powerful personal being exists primarily to make life easier and to facilitate lasting personal and group success. Of course it all depends how you define this term and when.

But how many prominent characters in the Bible had easy lives?

Aside from the assorted kings listed and a few powerful religious leaders, maybe two or three? Life was arguably quite satisfying for famous individuals like Joseph, Paul and Mary, etc. but their experience was often difficult, incredibly challenging and difficult, nonetheless.

Know anyone who has been sold as a slave by their own family members? When was the last time you heard of someone being stoned with real stones? Ever had to flee to another country because some local tyrant was trying to kill your kids?

Hello adversity!

Affliction is a good man’s shining time. – Edward Young

Meanwhile, those who do not acknowledge God may tend to highlight adversity as one way to grow stronger so they can live out their ultimately meaningless lives a little longer. It may sound offensive to state things so blatantly and starkly, but doesn’t it really come down to that? Most healthy people intuitively know that their lives have substantial and none-made-up meaning. But many simply cannot justify this core claim based on the current establishment worldview.

All too often adversity comes across as one more meaningless and far less enjoyable experience stacked up alongside all the others. Unfortunately, many are tempted to get out or at least check out if they can. After all, euthanasia is now legal in Canada and hundreds of marijuana stores will be opening soon.

This is to say that the potential value of adversity can be denied by fuzzy religious thinking or distorted by plain old-fashioned secular dogma.

How does adversity function as a friend? Anyone interested in a more detailed treatment of this topic might want to read How to Handle Adversity by Charles Stanley. However, the main point to remember is that adversity can serve as a powerful and positive teaching tool.

In other words, it can improve your perspective.

For example, a lack of tangible and visible success can make a person realize that it was all overrated and somewhat hollow and shallow as a primary objective and measure of self-worth in the first place. It is critically important to have basic needs met. But beyond that, so what if one temporary human being manages to obtain a little more social status, if obtaining higher status is largely what human activity is all about, than another.

In the larger scheme of life…really, who cares? There must be another objective.

So often the level of success each person is able to reach is dependent on many issues and realities beyond their control. This is not to downplay the role of persistent personal effort. But it is necessary to acknowledge the role of multiple external factors. If your country has a very high level of unemployment it is going to be that much more challenging to find a job. And if adequate financial resources are lacking, moving to another country will be very difficult if not impossible.

Experiencing adversity can result in a serious and much needed reevaluation of the overall place of public approval and personal acclaim. It is dangerous to not care at all about what other people think. But it is also possible to place far too much stock in other people’s opinions. Having recently read books about John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, George Washington, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon/The Queen Mother, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, it is quite clear that public figures should expect a measure of determined opposition.

This is par for the course.

Certainly leaders as well as ordinary citizens can make serious mistakes and may need to feel the weight of public disapproval in order to be motivated to change their behaviour. But a significant percentage of journalists are not going to approve of the current American president no matter what he does. And some people are just not going to like you either. That’s life.

Being on the receiving end of vocal or more subtle opposition may not necessary mean that you are at fault. Not at all. On the contrary, it may indicate that you are doing exactly what needs to be done. It is valuable to learn how to carry on in the face of persistent opposition. Adversity can serve to clarify what is worth metaphorically or literally fighting for.

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 there was naturally a great deal of debate regarding how best to respond between Margaret Thatcher and George H.W. Bush. Presumably while conceding one of the president’s points, Prime Minister Thatcher famously replied, “Alright then George, but this is no time to go wobbly.”

Adversity has a wonderful way of firming up some of the unwarranted wobbliness in our lives.

One more kind of waste

Each society and each person must find a way to make good and careful use of available talents and resources to meet their own needs and the needs of others. This emphasis has followed partly from the theological-based idea of stewardship not to mention the classic golden rule. But regardless of the direct cause, so much human activity and economic output or GDP is connected to meeting basic human needs such as food, shelter, water, security, clothing, heat, electricity, transportation, education, health care, etc.

The list goes on and on.

Now it is noteworthy that some nations and and groups have found a way to become more productive and accomplished at this whole business than others. Why is that? The full answer is likely elusive and complex. But taking the time to explore the contrast between the USA and Canada may provide a few clues. Out of curiosity, do you think Americans or Canadians tend to be more productive and routinely create more value?

Of course any loyal member of a less-productive country or crowd will tend to feel inclined to claim that obviously they have less to work with, that the folks over yonder are privileged in many respects, that their collective lot in life is marked by bad luck or no luck at all, and that the government no less and powerful interest groups are working against the average citizen. And they may well have a point.

Life is not always fair; we all know that. The system could potentially be rigged against us. Insider groups appear to be endless. Connections are critical. And equal opportunity is not a global guarantee. For whatever reason, sometimes events clearly do not turn out in our favour.

Just ask Hillary Clinton or the shareholders at Bombardier.

But one pertinent question will always remain: As difficult and challenging as the situation may be, what role does each person in a given society or organization still have to play in terms of positively shaping the future? Or more to the point: What part do you and I have to perform, right now?

It is interesting that the well-known Lean approach to manufacturing was developed in a small country that had recently been defeated in a horrific war involving nuclear weapons. Stop for a moment and consider that. Hiroshima. Nagasaki. The wide-spread emphasis on continuous improvement did not get started down in Detroit on a leisurely summer afternoon or over in Sweden in Volvo-land. No, this distinctive approach took shape in Japan in the context of great adversity and apparent devastation.

The eight kinds of waste associated with Lean include defects, overproduction, waiting, none-utilized talent, transportation issues, inventory problems, unnecessary motion, and extra processing. But it could be said that there are really eight different kinds of one kind of waste. The background assumption being that corporations and cultures need to make good use of everything they have – which includes time, money, energy, talent, assets, resources, etc. Some may be inspired merely by pressing survival needs and raw competition but more powerful sources of motivation are usually also present.

So if you were asked to expand the standard list to include nine kinds of waste, what would you add to the list? How about failing to make good use of strong adversity and very difficult circumstances? Is it possible to talk in terms of somehow “wasting” these undesirable events?

Yes, it is.

Remember, the purpose of Lean is to reduce waste so as to increase value for the customer. Creativity and time may be required. But it is worth considering at least how some unpleasant experiences and tangible setbacks could eventually work out for your own benefit and the benefit of others.

Every good endeavor

A colleague at work once mentioned, in a surprisingly lighthearted way, that they were usually drunk or stoned or both during their college days. While I could not relate to this disturbing experience and lifestyle choice, after giving it some thought this precarious pattern did not really surprise me.

From my perspective, at least, this self-destructive behaviour made sense.

Looking back, reading books like Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work likely played a significant role in helping me avoid a similar sad routine. For despite being surrounded by kind and often wise people, I remember being regularly struck by the futility of human existence and the apparent lack of meaning in my own daily life.

Discussing deep existential despair at a moments notice can feel forced and almost trivial and trite when you are not experiencing the full weight of it all. But if core dignity and worth and personal value and significance is threatened for too long, in a very real and substantial way, it is just a matter of time before some type of escape becomes necessary.

Thankfully, many university and college students do not have time to think long and hard about what they are being taught to believe about their lives. For there is always more propaganda to absorb, wisdom to discern, and all sorts of pressing activities and distractions.

May He help and strengthen everyone in every good endeavor

In Every Good Endeavor, Timothy Keller and Katherine Leary Alsdorf are not self-consciously setting out to primarily address a societal meaning crisis. They are, rather, trying to assist people associated with Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and beyond who are dealing with struggles related to work and particularly issues related to integrating Christian faith with their careers.

A short summary of the second topic is that God and work go together at many different levels like you would not believe. Or, to put it another way, it is kind of like the relationship between the earth and the sky: a bit complicated to describe at times, but they have always been together.

Picturing a triangle split into three horizontal parts will assist in the presentation of the basic structure of this book. The first section, God’s plan for work, would be positioned at the peak. At just under 50 pages, this is the shortest of the main three sections. The second section entitled Our problems with work comes in at around 70 pages. The Gospel and Work, the final section, could be pictured at the bottom; this is the largest part and contains close to 90 pages.

The first part focuses on the design of work, the dignity of work, work as cultivation, and work as service. The emphasis here is on our collective culture mandate or commission. In the second main section, the authors discuss the sense that work can sometimes be fruitless and feel pointless. Creation is no longer what is was originally intended to be and life will be difficult; it is best to just plan on that. In addition, they reflect on how work can now become a very selfish activity and actually be associated with idolatry. It was very interesting for me to read their assessment regarding common forms of idolatry associated with traditional, modern, and post-modern cultures.

With the introduction of the Gospel in the final section, there is an emphasis on a new way of approaching work: a new story or narrative, a new conception, a new moral compass, and a new source of motivation and power to get the job done.

What type work do the authors have in mind?

Well, Timothy obviously works as a pastor and Katherine has business experience as a corporate executive in Silicon Valley. But they are speaking to people who fill a wide variety of roles. Located in New York City, they are intentionally addressing careers common in their immediate community. But they are also thinking, really, about all the work that needs to be done on the earth.

The title is taken from a quote by jazz artist John Coltrane found in his 1964 release entitled A Love Supreme. John had been reflecting on the artistic abilities he had been given, together with his recent and remarkable experience working an a new album, and then wrote this: “May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.” Please keep in mind that John was using language here that used to refer to everyone – that is, men and women.

As some of you may know, I was doing manual labour – planting trees in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia – when I first began seriously considering some of the same ideas found in this book. It became quite apparent that in addition to providing for my own immediate needs and earning enough money to go to college, I was also actively participating in the ancient cultural mandate to care for creation.

Planting hundreds of trees, day after day, was hard work. And all work is difficult in some respects. But knowing your work has great dignity and deep meaning can make a big difference.

The best bad idea

In a leadership role, it would be wonderful to always be able to identify and select the very best of the best ideas and options. But senior leaders in organizations, companies, and countries are unfortunately often faced with unattractive options and forced to make less-than-ideal decisions.

Reflecting on the 1976 Entebbe raid, the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis, and the period of time American President George W. Bush was in office (2001 – 2009) has served as a reminder that we are not living in an ideal world. This recent exercise also makes me realize, yet again, that the decisions each person is required to make will not always likely be ideal either.

Of course this observation is not intended as justification for routinely lowering moral standards or self-consciously making blatantly poor decisions. However, it is often futile to search endlessly for that elusive “perfect” option guaranteed to please absolutely everyone.

July 4th, 2016 marked the 40-year anniversary of the daring raid on the Entebbe Airport in Uganda hastily organized to free approximately 100 hostages. On June 27th, 1976 Air France Flight 139 was hijacked in Athens en route from Tel Aviv to Paris with 248 passengers on board. This flight was then diverted to Uganda.

The terrorists were interested in a trade; they wanted to swap their newly acquired hostages for fellow terrorists held mostly in Israeli prisons. As a result, most of the non-Israelis were allowed to go free while the remaining Jewish captives were threatened with death if Israel did not quickly comply with the hijackers’ demands.

What would you do if you were the one responsible for making a timely decision and dealing with this dangerous situation?

From what I can tell, the leaders in Israel were not immediately sure what to do. But they did quickly cobble together a somewhat desperate military option – just in case it might work. Those familiar with the details of this story will know that Benjamin Netanyahu’s older brother, Yonatan, ended up leading Operation Thunderbolt, and was the only Israeli commando killed during this largely successful raid. Three of the hostages also died.

Reliable core convictions, an accurate moral compass, and up-to-date information are all required to begin to assess any leaders’ legacy

A few years later, the American government led by President Jimmy Carter faced a similar high-stress hostage situation. This one, however, would take more than one year to resolve. There had certainly been trouble and conflict and tension in Persia long before the USA even existed as a nation. But the American support of the autocratic monarchy, led by Mohammad Reva Pahlavi, together with the CIA’s direct involvement in Iranian politics, and a recent Islamic Revolution resulted in more than one assault on the US Embassy in Tehran.

On November 4th, 1979 several hundred students invaded the embassy and held 52 of the American staff members and diplomats hostage until January 20, 1981. Being a Canadian, I find it encouraging that six Americans were able to avoid being captured and eventually found refuge in the homes of staff members associated with the Canadian embassy. Argo, an award-winning film directed by Ben Affleck and released in 2012, tells the story of the creative way the CIA and the Canadian government went about getting these people safely out of the country: they posed as members of a Canadian film crew in order to get through Iranian customs.

In one scene in the movie, the American authorities responsible for making the final decision were obviously unhappy with the proposed rescue method and cover story. “Don’t you have any other bad ideas?” one person exclaims. “No,” responds the CIA operative, Tony Mendez, “this is the best bad idea we have got.” President Carter’s military rescue option would sadly fail. But somehow this oddball method managed to succeed.

Having recently read Decision Points, by former President George W. Bush, I am struck by the realization that conflict and disagreement surrounding major decisions will likely always exist. At one point in his autobiography, Bush describes decisions he faced on a daily basis as being complex with strong argument on either side. In other words, from his perspective, the best course of action was not always immediately obvious. And we need to remember that people in leadership roles usually have access to additional and confidential information.

Making decisions is often very complex at the best of times, even for those of us who do not manage companies or lead large and powerful nations. More education and information is not always the answer. Many tend to forget that Bush had degrees from Yale and Harvard.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, American presidents have been associated with the Republicans for 60 years and, including up to the end of Barack Obama’s second term, connected to the Democrats for 56 years. For whatever reason, the leadership flips back and forth between the two parties on a fairly regular basis. At 20 years, the Franklin D. Roosevelt/Harry Truman combination represents the longest Democrat run by far. Meanwhile the Republicans were able to maintain a 12-year reign in the Oval Office a couple of times with Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush producing the most recent record.

Reliable core convictions, an accurate moral compass, and up-to-date information are all required to begin to assess any leaders’ legacy. Compared to other world leaders, past and present, I suspect that most Western dignitaries and American presidents would receive an above-average rating.

But I am really hoping that the next president will be able to find some better bad ideas to work with. For that matter, I am hoping to discover a few better bad ideas myself.

Building a new life

Adjusting to life in a new country or a new city can be a big challenge. Parachuting so to speak into a new place as an anonymous outsider isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Finding an inviting place to live, physically moving, and then finding your way around are a few initial tasks that require substantial effort. For some, a new language must be quickly acquired. Basic survival conversation skills must be learned. This is huge. For others, a new culture or lifestyle takes some time getting used to. Finding and building healthy relationships in a new place takes even more time. People are similar and yet somehow different, and not always open to outsiders.

Picking up and moving from one place to another may sound exciting, but it is also usually stressful, time consuming, and very expensive. And moving often has a lingering psychological effect. Some days, everything will still feel strange even when somewhat established.

Being the center of attention isn’t advisable long-term but neither is becoming invisible overnight

Not that it is entirely easy to stay put or live anywhere, whether that be in a rustic mountain village or scattered providentially far out along a wilderness frontier or plain. Just ask Samuel de Champlain, the pioneers who arrived on the Prairies over a century ago, or recent immigrants and refugees. For that matter, talk to people settled in suburbia or folks living down the street at the same address for the past 50 years. Problems are a part of life. Moving often creates more problems, but sometimes so can staying in one place. Each scenario likely has its own unique set of challenges and opportunities.

Some places and situations are nonetheless clearly much more difficult than others. But realistically, there will be numerous struggles and obstacles to face throughout 2016 – wherever you happen to live. And so, it would be best for everyone to just plan on that.

Moving to a large urban center, particularly at this time in world history, continues to involve significant challenges. Sitting at our kitchen table, the conversation recently turned towards this timely topic; the consensus being that it was evidently much easier to feel significant or valuable in a smaller and more familiar setting. Whereas in a large city, or a new and culturally distant setting, there is a greater chance of getting lost in all of the activity and feeling insignificant as busy people all around go about their daily lives. There are dangers or extremes on every side. Being the center of attention isn’t advisable long-term but neither is becoming invisible overnight.

In a bustling metropolis there is often a loss of community and a lack of meaningful connection with other people, especially for newcomers. It would be odd not to be noticed or acknowledged in a small village or established community setting. But the situation is often just the opposite in a big city. People pass each other by on the street all the time. This common observation and contrast suggests that transitioning from a healthy, small community to a large and anonymous metropolitan center puts people at risk of being potentially exposed to a type of emotional propaganda. This can happen at the best of times.

The problem, while on the cheerful topic of endless problems, is that we are not living in the best of times. At the risk of sounding dire and grandiose, here is my take on the present situation in the somewhat civilized Western world: As a block or a global group, it is getting to the point where we could soon collectively lack a compelling intellectual framework to build and sustain a healthy society as well as individual lives. Colin Gunton’s old book The One, the Three and the Many comes to mind. Whether or not you agree with this assessment, feeling like your life is insignificant and suspecting that this internal sense is also accurate makes trying to live and relate in a positive way anywhere 10,000 times worse.

So there you have it. Modern mobility, ever-expanding cities, and a confused intelligentsia allegedly represents three parts of a global movement that can quickly drain a core sense of meaning, significance, purpose and personal dignity from our lives. That is, if we let it.

Cities have been around for a long time. This mid-morning discussion wasn’t focused so much on any particular city but rather on modern cities in general – that is, gatherings of large groups of assorted people packed together in close proximity. Whether it’s Frankfurt or Tokyo, Montreal or L.A., people have a mysterious habit of congregating in the same place and on the same relatively small plot of land. This practice may not change any time soon.

Of course instability and less-than-ideal philosophies are nothing new either. How people choose to respond when faced with all three mixed together is what remains to be seen.

Getting things done

While I have never been to China, my impression is that China is one country where a great deal gets accomplished in a short period of time. Meanwhile, I can’t say the same thing about my home country – Canada.

By any measure, China has experienced amazing growth and transformation during the past 50 years. As a result, many other countries are lining up in an attempt to cash in on their success. While I wouldn’t want to live under a communist dictatorship, I would like to live in society where there are signs of tangible progress. This isn’t to say that growth is always entirely positive or that China will turn out to be a benign major power in this world. But I really like the fact that the Chinese government, and many citizens in that country, have found a way to get things done.

It’s tempting to launch into a rant about what has gone wrong here in Canada. For it sometimes seems like 78 studies are required and 49 regulations must to be considered before a light bulb can be changed over at the House of Commons – that is, if this practice isn’t said to be in conflict with the Charter and the Constitution as interpreted by the feelings of the lawyers over at the Supreme Court last Monday morning. It is easy to point out that there is presently too much articulate talk and not enough plain and ordinary action. But this approach would also fail to appreciate the progress that has been made, the safeguards that are likely necessary, and the complexity that is often involved when considering public ventures.

As the saying goes, if I want change I also need to be willing to be the change. And I have noticed, as of late, that positive change in my own life requires a large amount of effort and seems to take a very long period of time. If I am slow, how can I expect everything around me to take place at a record pace?

But in the end, maybe it doesn’t matter so much whether you or I are getting important things accomplished at a record pace or over a protracted period of time. What does matter, though, is that significant projects are gradually being checked off of our “to-do” lists and we are moving in the right direction. It has often been mentioned that life isn’t just about doing things at a frantic pace – as important as they may seem. And yet, it is very important to get in the habit of getting important things done.

Does this sound too obvious to even mention? Is this observation for the more task-oriented folks who may have inadvertently stopped by? Should this message ideally be directed towards a few Facebook addicts you know?

What I like about this topic is that it forces (or perhaps invites) each one of us to think about what we need to focus on at this time. And this will be different for each person. The idea is to get moving if it becomes apparent we are perpetually stuck or that a time of rest and refreshment has turned into a prolonged distraction from important duties. By way of example, I am going back to school this fall and moving to another city in order to do that. So most of my energy must be focused in that direction. Nobody is going to find a place for me to live or sign me up for the required classes or read the stack of books I need to read, etc.

How about you? I very much appreciate that you stopped by this website site. But if I can be quite direct, without hopefully causing any offence, here is a question to consider:

What should you really be doing right now?

If it isn’t clear what you need to focus on, spending time at a website like this could help you eventually establish goals and begin to move. In other words, if I don’t know what to do I need to make figuring out what to do a priority. Working at discerning your next step is a worthwhile and absolutely necessary activity. It requires effort and should be defined as valuable work. It might not look like you doing much when in reality you are doing exactly what you need to do.

My decision to go back to school and study public policy is actually the result of several years of sustained reflection. Did I mention that I am slow? So don’t get discouraged if your own attempt to clarify your life direction seems to be taking a very long time.

On the other hand, if it is quite clear where your energy needs to be directed and yet you have failed to take the necessary first or second or third step…then lingering online much longer could become a problem.

Driving by a government building some time ago, my wife mentioned in a lighthearted way, “That’s where they make the red tape.” It was a funny comment at the time and contains an element of truth. And yet, it is sobering to realize that we each have the capacity to act and can’t really blame the government or anyone else if we choose not to.

The power to change

Some things cannot be changed. Oh yes, that’s just the way it is. Some things will never change. Or at least we cannot change them. Take, for example, pretty much everything that occurred during the previous month.

Which is to say, that February 2015 has now come to an end. Twenty-eight days quickly came and went. And this period of time will never be back. What happened, whether it was good or bad or otherwise, is all over now. It’s finished, done, final. We all know that searching for a magical rewind button in order to change whatever took place, in this awkward or perhaps that terrible situation, is a waste of time and a ridiculous thing to do.

Often there are more opportunities to make a difference than we realize

So why bother? What’s done is done. It’s best just to learn and let go and move on. Sure, this is not always an easy task. But what are the options? Trying to change what happened last month or last year or 25 years ago, etc. brings up the age-old image of beatings one’s head against that persistent and proverbial brick wall. Not a good idea, since a few of those brain cells might come in handy in the years to come!

So baring the invention of a time machine, the past is one obvious example of something in your life and mine that cannot be changed. But there are many others. Consider a very serious health situation. Hopefully we won’t have to anytime soon. But then again, we might. People deal with these kinds of issues everyday.

Here in Canada, thankfully quite often treatments are readily available for any number of health issues. A pill can be produced or a change of diet makes a difference. But for everyone who is alive, there will come a time when it is no longer possible to stay alive. Cancer eventually strikes or another terminal disease set in. And when that happens, no doctor or nurse will be able to do anything. For any number of reasons, our bodies wear out and break down. I don’t like to think about it and probably neither do you. But death is always just around the corner.

When it’s our turn to die, money won’t make a difference. Race and nationality will seem irrelevant. Status and success will fade from view. On that day, as health and vitality begins to face, our attention will be focused on one glaring reality: Life as we know it will soon come to an end.

And yes, you are very welcome for this pleasant reminder of your impending personal doom.

But the main purpose of this post is to point out that many things can be changed. This is easy to forget. The situation you have in mind may not change automatically or without an incredible amount of effort. But positive change is often possible. It is necessary to be regularly reminded of this and especially when facing challenging times.

Looking around, it may occasionally seem like very little can be changed. Realistically, there might not be much in the way of immediate hope on the horizon. Possibly someone reading this presently feels trapped and powerless. But despite all the things you can’t do, try to identify what you can do.

Here are a number of situations that quickly come to time:

1. I can’t force anyone to visit this website. But I can try to provide valuable content.

2. I can’t become good at everything. But I can become good at something.

3. I can’t fix what is wrong with this world. But I can fix a very small part of it.

4. I can’t control how others respond to me. But I can try to control how I respond to them.

5. I can’t reach my goals today. But I can take the next small step.

Personally, I find this exercise to be very helpful. Out of curiosity, what would you include on your list? It goes without saying that this idea certainly isn’t original with me. A certain prayer by Francis of Assisi may come to mind for many. But unfortunately, bad theology (among other things) can still kick in at this point and block this exercise from ever taking place.

While this might not describe your situation, some people believe that God directly controls everything and that there is very little room in His universe for human freedom and creativity. To be honest, I sometimes really wish that this was true. For the amount of suffering that takes place because of the large-scale abuse of human freedom can sometimes feel like too much to bare. As well, then nothing much would be expected of us other than to do what we had already been programmed to do. Then life would easy, dull but easy.

But real life doesn’t work that way.

There are real choices that need to be made and real consequences to deal with. Yes, God is ultimately in control. But our input is required. For now, the exact relationship between human freedom and God’s will largely remains a mystery. But in the meantime, don’t underestimate the power you have been given to creatively change your situation and make a positive difference in this world.

Personal development

Would it makes sense to compare your life and what you have to offer to a product that needs to be developed? Could reflection on a standard marketing strategy provide a new and necessary perspective?

Viewing any person primarily as a product to be developed and marketed would be a mistake. Nowadays, an excessively materialistic mindset leads some to view pretty much everything in terms of cash value. If a dollar value is lacking, whatever is being considered isn’t said to be worth very much. All too often personal worth is determined by net worth. And soon enough this bottom-line thinking leads to a distorted understanding of human life.

That being said, it may be valuable to think about who you are and what you have to offer in terms of the classic Five P’s of Marketing which includes (1) Product, (2) Price, (3) Place, (4) Promotion, and (5) Perseverance. And today, we will consider the first one.

My introduction to marketing took place as I set out to learn about marketing music. In this context, the obvious place to begin is with some good-quality music to offer people, whether in a live setting or via a studio recording. And this takes an incredible amount of time, effort and money; it obviously doesn’t just happen. Likewise, in terms of a career, we each need to honestly ask what we have to offer that is substantial to a potential employer or client in a very competitive world.

Do you have an appealing “product” to present to anyone right now? Or is this the time when you really need to focus on your personal/product development?

A creative product needs to be carefully produced

Two mistakes quickly become evident in the midst of this discussion. The first is a lack of awareness of personal skills or abilities or experiences or characteristics or education, etc. that could be very valuable to somebody somewhere. Often we have more going for us than we realize. And we forget that it is necessary to search in order to find people who will value what we have to offer. But the second mistake is to think that we have more to offer right now than we actually do. Some bands, I discovered, jump to step number four in this process much to quickly. They set out to promote themselves before they really have something polished to promote.

My story is similar although not quite the same. Aspiring to teach at the college level, I had my sights set on a Ph.D. While I got close, by way of a graduate degree, this basic educational requirement evaded my grasp. Several more years of study would have been required, and this would have cost thousands of dollars – money I didn’t have. But I applied for a number of college teaching jobs just the same, and of course wasn’t hired.

In other words, it doesn’t make sense to hone our resume writing skills before we have anything substantial to put in our resumes. Over the years I have read a lot of resumes that didn’t really say a whole lot. At the same time, I have read a large number of job descriptions which tend to be very specific and concrete.

Here’s the harsh reality:

A high school education doesn’t count for much. And many university programs don’t really matter. A few teachers might tell you how wonderful you are, but those teachers are never going to hire anybody. In fact, you have hired them. Most employers are looking for very specific training and skills together with years of experience.

Yes, some people are born into very privileged situations. And personal/product development may not be a pressing need for them. But for most people, it typically takes an incredible amount of hard work simply to move beyond step number one.

Courage and calling

Courage & Calling: Embracing your God-given potential could have been designed with this website in mind. But of course it wasn’t. The author, Gordon T. Smith, wrote the first edition back in 1999 during a sabbatical in the midst of a personal transition. The edition I picked up had been revised in 2011, about the time this online resource began to take shape.

Search and you will find that all sorts of people have been reflecting and talking and writing about these issues for a long period of time. And this, I suspect, will never change. Or at least not any time soon. And each person brings something unique to the discussion.

Gordon grew up in Ecuador and worked in the Philippines before arriving in Canada, and most recently Calgary, where he now serves as the president of Ambrose University. He is ordained with the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada, has a Ph.D. from Ateneo de Manila University, and has been working as an academic and administrator in theological colleges for most of his life.

But fear not, this isn’t a dry or dull academic document. It is written, rather, in a straightforward and accessible style and is quite easy to read. As an aside, I found that focusing on this book was more refreshing and enjoyable – and likely beneficial – than staring at a computer screen for the same period of time.

What is this book essentially about? And who will benefit from taking the time to read it?

As the title suggests, the focus is on the courage that each of us will require in order to live out our unique vocation or calling. Courage & Calling is roughly divided in half. The first half is dedicated to a theological vision (for lack of a better phrase) for work and practical insight about the career selection process. The next half begins with a closer look at four specific types of work: business, the arts, education, and religious leadership. What follows is a discussions surrounding five “points of leverage” or rather ways in which we can each increase our effectiveness. This includes: developing courage, continuous learning, emotional resilience, working well with others, and establishing structure and order in our lives.

Of all the points of leverage discussed, Gordon feels that developing emotional resilience is likely the most important one. With this in mind, on page 221, you will read this: “Lack of emotional maturity and resilience will sabotage our lives and vocations.” Strong words perhaps, but nonetheless words that need to be taken to heart.

Unlike other books I have read, and briefly reviewed, this one has a strong emphasis on the organizational side of life. In other words, you will find practical advice here specifically in terms of how to be more effective within a particular organization. At the same time, Gordon emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting where you work. This may sound like a luxury to some. But it makes sense to find a place to work that is a fit with who you are as a person if at all possible. There is also practical advice here related to deciding when it might be a good idea to resign and move on.

One more point to ponder related to content.

Throughout his book, Gordon addresses a number of misunderstandings related to the career selection progress, particularly within the various Christian communities he has been a part of. For example, he feels that personal desire has been misunderstood and often regrettably downplayed. At the same time, he thinks that there has been too much emphasis on meeting immediate needs and not enough instruction on how to determine which needs to meet. For a sense of personal vision and direction is required in order to live a more effective life.

Trying to figure out what do to next? Longing for more of a sense of person direction and focus in your life? Interested in discovering what a “theological vision” for your career might look like? Hoping to move beyond a merely secular take on life? Well then, reading this book would likely be well worth your time.

*Another version of this review is available at Converge Magazine. And here is a brief video by Gordon T. Smith about vocational discernment.

Wally’s private parts

Wally, a mysterious person I have never met, has the best sign advertising a parts store by far. Came around yet another corner on a winding road and there it was: Wally’s Private Parts. We must have passed hundreds of signs on that particular journey, but I will always remember Wally’s. Very entertaining. Over a year has gone by, and we are still laughing.

Thanks for the good memories!

His simple sign was original, creative, funny, memorable, and also very informative. In a moment, anyone driving by knew where to go and who to talk to if their forestry equipment suddenly broke down. Why deal with some generic parts store when you have an excuse to meet an interesting and creative guy named Wally? And with any luck he would answer that earnest knock on his door fully clothed.

Sure, this creative sign was a marketing manuever – a way of getting attention. Obviously, a communication strategy that worked well for a couple of people travelling on by. But this creative presentation also makes me realize that vocational callings can sound unnecessarily dull because of how they are routinely described. Would you agree?

If this is the case, it might partly explain why the decision-making process is such a challenge for some people. After all, why get excited about any occupation if they all sound stale and dry and boring and dull?

So if nothing grabs your attention, perhaps it’s time to rephrase or rethink a few viable options. Try to describe an occupation you might have even briefly considered in the past in a more interesting way. Consider the following examples.

Some time ago, while sitting in a local restaurant, I realized that the people who worked there provided much more than food. Yes, they served excellent meals and they provided a nice atmosphere, etc. But most of all, they provided fuel for life. It’s stating the obvious, but without food and energy everything grinds to a halt in a very short period of time. It’s like running out of gas halfway to your destination.

Notice the contrast: “I am a cook.” vs. “I provide fuel for life.” Both phrases may be true, but which definition or description do you prefer? Which one grabs you?

Another example. Not too long ago, I heard about guy who had a fence building business. Of course there are all sorts of reality TV shows based on the excitement, glamour, and status surrounding such business ventures. Or not. But the way I heard how he described his business made me quite interested. What did he do for a living? He helped people establish boundaries in their lives.

Again, notice the contrast: “I build fences.” vs. “I provide boundaries.” Which phrase makes you feel tired? And which one makes you interested and energized?

Or take what I am doing at this moment: writing a blog post for this website. Every day thousands of website managers and bloggers post articles and create content for their sites. Happens all the time. Over and over again. It’s as common as a curve on a winding road or another sign off to the left. And it doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? But what if this brief description doesn’t accurately describe what is going on?

It’s funny how labels and common phrases can sometimes obscure meaning and make us forget about larger goals. And when that happens, selecting a career becomes even more complicated and unnecessarily dull.