So true. A new book is exciting. It’s a chance to get inside the mind of another human and read a significant portion of her (his) life work.
Books are containers for ideas* with a start, finish & logical progression - unless you are a French, post-modern intellectual or Russian novelist in which case there’s no pressure to publish something coherent. It’s amazing that we can ingest the greatest ideas from another human through the technology of books and open our minds to a new way of processing the world. We can do this without regard to geography (space) or generation (time) reading dead people from lands not our own. Incredible.
So…
…why would you ever read something that bores you?
I was given permission to start and not finish a book while in grad school. Ironically, school is the place I read the most uninspiring texts. The scene of said lesson was a class on Communication Leadership where we chose a book and reported on the author’s ideas. Most students chose books they detested and reserved few kind words for the author. When all finished Dr. Darlene approached the front frustrated and said:
“Why would you ever continue to read a book that didn’t grip you immediately?! There are so many fantastic authors in our world. Have the guts to admit you made a bad choice and move on to something worthwhile, something that strikes you deep.”
Choosing a book is a tremendous responsibility that requires one to wrestle with an author’s greatest ideas. I’ve discovered the joy of reading more back covers and dustjackets than full texts. Then, at the appropriate time joyfully returning a new book to the shelf to live permanently unread… and starting another.
Friends in my social circles have recently compared Pinterest to a female version of Evernote, Tumblr, crack and/or fantasy sports. Caffeine may be a better comparison as a legally addictive substance. Chances are you’ve already discovered Pinterest and its addicting, endlessly scrolling interface. (If not: familiarize yourself with this web delicacy).
I think these trite comparisons are missing the point of technology.
Limiting a technology to its most popular use is undermining the general purpose of it. Technologies exist to serve us and be formed by us. Pinterest, for example, is mostly used by women to post style, interior design, recipes, etc. yet it has a tremendous upside if you use it for something you need.
Technologies always exists to serve humanity. Always. We are not in bondage to technology unless we choose to use it as master.
Having a cell phone does not mean you have to be available.
Purchasing a TV does not require you to have a cable package.
Signing up for a new social network does not require you to digitize your day.
Owning a car does not mean you have to drive it.
Having electricity does not require you to turn on the switch.
Pinterest’s larger appeal to me is not to discover my fashion style or improve kitchen flair on my table. Instead, I built a Pinterest board as a birthday and holiday wish list. It worked. I received things from my parents in Michigan that were on the list without having to compile something in haste. On another board I’m designing my new home office. It won’t happen in the near future. But, when we’re ready then I’ll be ready. I could have easily done both tasks using Excel, Word or a cork board. But, I discover most things while on the internet and Pinterest is a tool that allows me to compile them quickly. I use the technology. I form it to my need.
Various new technologies will be interested in your attention this year like Apple TV, Path, Google Wallet and Driverless Cars. Do not fear the early stereotypes or comparisons. Adopt them vigorously as needed. Just keep the roles of master and servant firmly affixed.
Every morning it’s time to wrestle with open and honest dialogue. I need it with myself, my God and others. When I walk with shame into the next moment I trivialize the humanity in every personal encounter and insult the God who granted me the next moment. With shame I cannot offer others compassion and understanding and forgiveness and empathy when self-preservation is my obsession.
I’m the cloaked and veiled. Life gets complex then private and secret get confused. So, 2 hrs and 47 mins into this morning I take my next step towards open and honest dialogue: Communion with God and confessions of my heart. It’s taken way too long to ignore the distractions and get to the heart work of the day.
Third to Christ for the Nations & Jennifer Knapp, All Sons & Daughters is my best “sad” music. You know, when you’re soul is sad and you need that reminder that the world is not in fact imploding or decomposing like your social feeds are implying. In fact it’s just a rainy day and your soul is sad. Enjoy and be couraged.
The season of advent is comprised of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It’s typically a deep and rich time, not always joyful. It commemorates the coming of Jesus; the incarnation of He becoming us reaching personally into our broken humanity to forever heal it.
I love the celebration of Christian tradition now. Wish we did more of this.
