thinking, thinking, thinking

I was thinking the other day.... In fact, I was thinking about thinking. I think that although we all think a lot, we often don't think about our thinking very much. Perhaps if we would take the time to think about our thinking, we might think a little better in the process.

This all might sound a bit funny, but I think its true. Some people talk like thinking is a bad thing to do - but in reality, its not that they're not thinking, its just that they're not thinking about their thinking.

When we fail to think about our thinking, we make a lot of assumptions. And as we all know, to assume can make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'... haha - that is an old joke and a bad one...

I am aware that the postmodern generation can be accused of overthinking sometimes... thinking at the expense of doing... But perhaps this is just because people are actually hungry to think... and they're sick of not thinking about their thinking.

The challenge of course, in all of this, is to ensure that thinking goes hand in hand with doing. In fact, thinking without doing is very dangerous. But I would argue that doing without thinking is also dangerous.... it is doing without thinking that has landed us in a big mess time after time.

Thinking about our thinking is challenging though... it requires us to reflect on what motivates us, and what inspires us. It forces us to confront our own biases and presumptions. It also stops us from justifying the means to get to the ends. Thinking about thinking can be uncomfortable. If we don't take the time to do it, then we can excuse the consequences to our actions by saying that we never realised and we didn't know. We can get what we want by spurious means, but never take the time to be aware of our own ambition.

And then, if we actually manage to accept the challenge of thinking about our thinking, we can struggle to find time and space to do it. We are all so busy making life happen. Getting things done. We can shove thinking about our thinking to the side. It becomes a luxury for those with far too much spare time on their hands.

But if I can encourage you to do anything these holidays (other than relaxing and having a sweet time with family and friends) - it would be to take some time to think about what and why you think about things. Take the time to ask yourself some questions...

Why do you do what you do? What gives your life meaning? What motivates you? Who are the most important people in your life, and how are your relationships with them going? What challenges you, and what do you find difficult? Why?

All sorts of questions that help us to understand ourselves and our lives, and help us to understand the way we think on a daily basis. And if you come up with an answer to one of these questions, try and come up with 3 new questions to ask about the answer you've come up with. This can really lead you into a new level of understanding your sense of self, and your place in the world.

Thinking about your thinking can become a powerful and life changing pattern. At least that's what I think.

a confrontation of justice

So I always have good intentions for updating this blog - and then get sidetracked by other things. But here I am again, after a season of backsliding... I have made a recommitment to blogging - I may need some follow-up at same point to make sure I keep to my decision, but in the mean time, here's a few thoughts :-)

I have spent the last few years rearranging my views on the world (or at least - having them rearranged)... I have realised that the gospel message is not about changing from one column to the next, from being 'in', instead of being 'out', but its about allowing God's Kingdom to come to earth. In other words, its about allowing God's desire for his creation to come about, in my life, and in my sphere of influence. God's desire for love, beauty, justice, truth, goodness... not a pressure to behave a certain way, but an invitation to be transformed, and to participate in God's transforming work in the world.

And in the midst of this revolution that I've been having, I have recognised that God challenges us to care for the poor and the broken-hearted. To seek justice for the oppressed. To spend our lives on behalf of those who need restoring, hope, change...

And this is a great idea isn't it? In fact, in some kind of way, this thing we call social justice has become a pop culture revolution. Everybody cares about Africa these days. It has even become cool for celebrities to adopt African children. What a funny thing.

But in strange sort of way, we fail to recognise that our way of life so often reinforces the oppression of those we profess to care about. We want to care, until it costs us something and then we don't want to care - at least not that much. We want our governments to do something about global poverty, until we hit a credit crunch and then we go back to looking after ourselves... and still what we call a 'crisis' (which is genuinely hard for many people - I do not mean to minimise this) is still far less serious then crises all over the world in places we can easily avoid if we want to...

Of course we could ask what business it is of ours to care so much about people in Africa or China or Cambodia... We could say that they all live a long way away and really have nothing to do with us. Perhaps we could find a way to justify saying that, if our coffee, clothes, shoes, appliances, furniture and most of the other things we rely on for a way of life were made without horrendous labour conditions, unfair trade, and in some cases, child labour.

So the gospel challenges us to consider this. And to consider this becomes very confronting doesn't it? Because when you really start to think about it, you realise that it becomes very inconvenient to think about it too much. When we start to think about the things that define us. The things that we simply 'have' to buy because otherwise we feel like we're falling behind. We have to fit in to the 'in-groups' and look cool, and keep up.. we have to get the new furniture, the new cars, the new house... because it is what makes us feel like we're ok. That we're making it.

When we think about it in logical terms we can easily recognise the injustice of the situation. But when it comes to the reality of it, it gets much harder doesn't it? When it means paying more money for something, or not getting that thing that you really want. How much do we really want change? How far are we really prepared to go to see a transforming revolution in our society?

This is the question that is bugging me. And so I thought I should share it. And I am interested in action. I am interested in changing the way I live. I am interested in challenging my assumptions and confronting my own selfish ambitions.

So I would like your thoughts. I would like your suggestions. I would like your critiques. I would like to see us do something. Please leave comments here to this effect...

And I'm interested in getting together to talk this through. I want to talk to people who are thinking about this kind of revolution and get some of us together to talk. To talk about how we go about changing. And some of you are probably already on the journey... So let me know if you're keen and lets get together.

peace.

michaeljamesfrost