Understanding Common Ground FIRST
Over the years I've had the privileged of being taught by some of the most powerful minds of our times. My extensive travels have added to the level of information that I have accumulated. It is taking almost forever for me to put pen to paper [ fingers to keyboard] to start sharing what I believe can be an asset to the reader in some form or the other.
I have realized that the challenges of Life either cause us to stand and fight or curl up and whither. I choose the former - There is no point carrying a pregnancy of ideas so long and dying in the delivery stages. Why not hold on bear the labour - and follow through to delivery.
Most of us some time or the other had major issues with [ Bible beatings] having the Word of God thrown at us in such a way that we have become almost tired of hearing the quotes. Being an Ordained Minister have afforded me much insight into the thoughts and dynamics involved in Human behavior based on Psychological evaluations and other relevant Authorities. I can never claim to be an expert in any major way - Please don't take my work to be a final authority.
However, in light of my life experiences past failures and successes I want to implore you to consider carefully what you read of my writings, as I believe that [ we could learn a lot from a dummy]. As past dear leaders would have taught me - Keep it Simple Steele [ KISS].
As you continue to read, I have decided to style my writing in a secret/ coded way. For the sake of you my reader here and now, I will explain my code and my thinking in doing this. I want to explain this that you might realize that there is much sense in what I share - But also that you might look for Gems that many who skim through my works would never find since they don't have the time to find value in little things or the time to wait patiently for the revelation.
Here is the code and it is simple - I say it in a parable but then I will explain it - what is the point of a Parable without an explanation from the writer.
Parable: We appear slow and dumb, easy pushovers, too silly to make any great impression and have a case of dyslexia - did you know our IQ is above average?
Study the lives of few creative people and you will realize that they have a weird way of MAKING things happen and keeping peoples' attention when others hardly even get the attention. Reading further might strengthen your sermon or even enhance your business meeting. Let me quit rambling and get intellectual.
I was once a fast - quick fix - want it NOW kinda person til I realized that quick fixes have NO SOLID FOUNDATION. So now since having a Paradigm Shift I tend to Step back and look on carefully before rushing in. Smaller Groups have now become more popular to me than the multitudes.
Today is the 25th July 2009 - From this day I will work on the EMPIRE I have been building for so many Years. Each day you will see a stepping stone to success. I want you to walk [ NOT RUN, SPEED, or HYPER THRUST ] with me and let us see something from start to finish.
Rule number one: Keep away from time wasters.
Rule number two: Manage your time wisely.
Rule number three: Make time for Good study and good reading
Groups or communities come together based on what they share, on what is similar among the members, normally called the common ground. This commonality can generate a strong fervor and cohesiveness, especially in the group's beginning stages. It enables the group to move forward for an indefinite period of time until things settle down and become somewhat routine and accepted. What happens then is something we have all experienced in being part of a group. This is when our uniqueness comes to the surface and needs to be addressed. Until then, we have put our individuality on a shelf so that the group energy can flourish and become strong. Besides, this provides lots of energy to the members of the group, inspiring harmonious social interactions.
When things settle down and become more routine, however, changes normally start happening. Those qualities and differences that were put aside for the sake and benefit of the group now come forward and need to be addressed. Who each person is as an individual (i.e. a separate, unique person), also needs to be honored and valued as part of the group process. If this does not occur, there is a danger that the group members will split off their personal life from the group life. If the members' qualities and values that interfere with the unity of the group have been put aside, a time will come when each individual needs to bring them out of hiding in order to maintain his or her integrity.
All members are normally aware, albeit unconsciously, that expressing a quality that is alien to the group brings the risk of being judged and perhaps even cast out of the group. Unfortunately it often happens that many, if not most of the members, choose to continue to suppress their individuality within the group. Those who do express it, usually do this outside of the group context. Although the group remains together, eventually its life begins to dwindle and this will continue to the point where corruption sets in, marking the imminent end of the group. Unfortunately there are members who will rise up within the group to use this situation for their own benefit, feeding off a dying plant like a fungus. Those members who choose to stay within this context will fall with the group when it collapses.
When a member does decide to bring forth a quality which is counter to the group, the glue that held the group together can start to weaken, often to the point of threatening the very foundation and existence of the group. The possibility of the group breaking up generates a tension often stronger than many members can bear. Using our present framework of awareness and understanding, this tension can only remain unresolved, and will grow to the point where the person in question leaves the group, or the group (or individuals within the group) falls apart. This tension is certainly felt by everyone, largely on an unconscious level, and is not understood by most except perhaps the leader. It often happens that the leader, with the support of many group members, in order to find relief from this pressure and also to keep the group from falling apart, finds a scapegoat who will come to bear the heavy burden of those inherent and unseen tensions. The initial response of most members to this is to welcome the easing of their load.
Another possible scenario, one that is experienced more often, especially in this postmodern age of deconstruction, is where a member expresses him or herself in a way that is not only counter to the group, but is excessively individualistic to the point where it has become not just difficult, but impossible for the group to integrate. This occurs in the situation referred to above where the members have neglected to express their individuality to the extent that the group life has suffered and begun to disintegrate. Not only does the group take on a dysfunctional quality but the members as well, and since the power of the group has weakened, together with the anger felt from what has happened, some members feel compelled to express these dysfunctional qualities in order to feel some release from them. But rather than providing a benefit for either them or the group, this behavior can only be considered subversive and contributes to the malaise and downfall of both the group and its members.
It seems to me political correctness emerged as a result of the inability to discern between an individuality that is positive and/or creative, and one that is destructive and promotes fragmentation. But this is where a discernment of difference is so critical. Wherever there are differences there will be tension, but tension in and of itself is neutral. Without tension there would be no life, and a life-giving tension is sometimes called a creative tension. This tension tends to work itself out and to produce new and creative things. The other tension can be called destructive tension for very little, if any, good comes out of it.
The expression of individuality is of two kinds. One type of individual expresses him or herself just for the sake of expression, to get attention to feed their pride, vanity or lack of self-confidence, or for another such self-centered reason. The other type uses self-expression as a tool for their creativity, to convey who they really are and relay that to the world at large. The difference between these two in terms of their effect on any situation or group is like night and day. Up to now, based on our current mode of perception and/or standards of discernment, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to tell these two apart outright. But we don’t have to wait until the damage has been done to discern between these two types. Taking advantage of the clearer sight offered to us by understanding the dynamics that are involved and what happens in these realms enables us to be more readily aware of what is happening and what is behind it. No longer need we be tied down to the over-general concept of political correctness to determine our response, for in any given situation, sound judgment and common sense, enables us to know what is appropriate and/or beneficial, and what is not. I will leave off here to bring more to you concerning association and the dynamics involved.
I personally believe that if we honestly understand the above - our groups would be more productive and successful.
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MORE TO COME...
Rev. Steele
