Much has been written about internet networking: facebook, twitter and the like. I'm just going to add my bit.
Facebook is like one big gossipfest. Useful, but also designed to make those not 'in' feel 'out'. It's particularly bad for teenagers - facebook promotes the one-upmanship and putdowns which so many suffer from.
That makes me angry. Life is difficult enough in adolescence. Why can't people just be NICE, REAL and HONEST?
There we are. I've said my bit.
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Christmas letters
Much as I enjoy receiving newsletters at Christmas, I also enjoy writing our own. It's always a challenge to encapsulate our news to give friends a yearly update of where we are and what we have been doing.
I always try and stick to a (relatively) simple formula.
1. One side of A4.
2. In a font size that is not so tiny that one needs reading glasses, nor so large that it looks childish.
3. Informative, yet not boastful.
4. Does not contain extensive details of holidays or other achievements.
5. Mildly amusing, if possible. I quite like a self-deprecatory style if I can manage it.
6. Sometimes a common theme is quite useful: it has the advantage of concentrating my mind and keeping me from waffling on.
Any of you reading this may not think I have achieved the criteria - oh well, at least I tried!
I always try and stick to a (relatively) simple formula.
1. One side of A4.
2. In a font size that is not so tiny that one needs reading glasses, nor so large that it looks childish.
3. Informative, yet not boastful.
4. Does not contain extensive details of holidays or other achievements.
5. Mildly amusing, if possible. I quite like a self-deprecatory style if I can manage it.
6. Sometimes a common theme is quite useful: it has the advantage of concentrating my mind and keeping me from waffling on.
Any of you reading this may not think I have achieved the criteria - oh well, at least I tried!
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Honesty
Honesty keeps cropping up frequently this week.
Today, it was two friends discussing different social functions they had had to attend.
Both felt profoundly uncomfortable. One was embarrassed, the other so overcome by the urge to giggle that she had to leave as soon as she decently could.
The reason for their discomfort was the people they were with. Women with breasts hoisted up to their collarbones; faces lifted, botoxed and tucked up; dressed as twenty year olds, whose sole topic of conversation was the sandals they were wearing. The atmosphere was stifling: all about appearance, maintaining a facade, pretending to be other than who they really were.
My friends are beautiful, elegant women. Both are bright, with a wide range of interests. Both are very honest, real people. Neither could cope with the falsehood underlying the relationships in that particular social set.
Jesus often talked about the dangers of fussing with our appearance and trying to make ourselves look good in front of others, rather than attending to what we are like on the inside. Something to remember.
To be true, to be honest, to deny any appearance of a lie - this is how to live.
Today, it was two friends discussing different social functions they had had to attend.
Both felt profoundly uncomfortable. One was embarrassed, the other so overcome by the urge to giggle that she had to leave as soon as she decently could.
The reason for their discomfort was the people they were with. Women with breasts hoisted up to their collarbones; faces lifted, botoxed and tucked up; dressed as twenty year olds, whose sole topic of conversation was the sandals they were wearing. The atmosphere was stifling: all about appearance, maintaining a facade, pretending to be other than who they really were.
My friends are beautiful, elegant women. Both are bright, with a wide range of interests. Both are very honest, real people. Neither could cope with the falsehood underlying the relationships in that particular social set.
Jesus often talked about the dangers of fussing with our appearance and trying to make ourselves look good in front of others, rather than attending to what we are like on the inside. Something to remember.
To be true, to be honest, to deny any appearance of a lie - this is how to live.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Honesty or, The Great Cake Analogy
Ironic that I've been thinking about honesty. The vicar mentioned it this morning. The necessity of being honest with God.
And, to my mind, with each other as well.
Ironic also, because I just made a cake. I just love analogies. This is my latest. The Great Cake Analogy.
My cake making is... okay. The cakes usually taste good, even when I don't measure the ingredients properly. But it's a bit hit and miss - partly because I don't make cakes very often, so I forget how to do it. As for icing... well, it's always necessary. Necessary because I really like the icing best of all, and necessary to hide all the lumpy bits. The cakes never turn out with good smooth, level surfaces. There are bumps at the side and on top, but nothing that a layer of icing can't cure.
The trouble is, icing isn't good. It's calories your body doesn't need and sweetness which damages the teeth.
I do other damage to my life, if I'm not careful.
My life is like one of my cakes. Lumpy, bumpy and doesn't look good, although it doesn't taste too bad. Yet a lot of the time I ice it over, so no one can see the ugly bits.
My icing is made of politeness, dissembling, camouflage and hidden emotions. It contains lies, which are very useful for covering up hurt and difficulty, the sort of lies on the lines of 'I'm fine, thank you,' in answer to 'How are you?'. It is smoothed down with the hot water of positive thinking - if I don't admit to the problem, it will go away.
People can't connect properly if I am not honest about my life. If I gloss over difficulties - particularly if I cover them with holy optimism and Bible references - others cannot see the real me. Icing over my life isn't good for me.
Am I prepared to be honest with God? Am I prepared for people to see the uncovered ugliness that is like one of my cakes before cosmetic treatment?
And, to my mind, with each other as well.
Ironic also, because I just made a cake. I just love analogies. This is my latest. The Great Cake Analogy.
My cake making is... okay. The cakes usually taste good, even when I don't measure the ingredients properly. But it's a bit hit and miss - partly because I don't make cakes very often, so I forget how to do it. As for icing... well, it's always necessary. Necessary because I really like the icing best of all, and necessary to hide all the lumpy bits. The cakes never turn out with good smooth, level surfaces. There are bumps at the side and on top, but nothing that a layer of icing can't cure.
The trouble is, icing isn't good. It's calories your body doesn't need and sweetness which damages the teeth.
I do other damage to my life, if I'm not careful.
My life is like one of my cakes. Lumpy, bumpy and doesn't look good, although it doesn't taste too bad. Yet a lot of the time I ice it over, so no one can see the ugly bits.
My icing is made of politeness, dissembling, camouflage and hidden emotions. It contains lies, which are very useful for covering up hurt and difficulty, the sort of lies on the lines of 'I'm fine, thank you,' in answer to 'How are you?'. It is smoothed down with the hot water of positive thinking - if I don't admit to the problem, it will go away.
People can't connect properly if I am not honest about my life. If I gloss over difficulties - particularly if I cover them with holy optimism and Bible references - others cannot see the real me. Icing over my life isn't good for me.
Am I prepared to be honest with God? Am I prepared for people to see the uncovered ugliness that is like one of my cakes before cosmetic treatment?
Saturday, 10 May 2008
PURPOSE
Every so often, I find myself reviewing my purpose. What am I here for? Or: What on earth am I doing here? Even: What on earth do I THINK I am doing? And even more frequently, What have I done to get myself into this mess and how can I possibly get out of it?
I won't attempt to answer those questions. Not here, not right now anyway.
But I came across some thoughtful words. Ruth Haley Barton in Longing For More, IVP (ISBN 978 184474 2059, because I've only read an extract in a magazine which I will no doubt lose and I do want to get the book sometime).
She has reminded me that:
- I need not be defined by other people's expectations of me.
- My purpose is to reflect God's character, to love him, and to be honest with him.
- My purpose is also to acknowledge and develop the abilities he has given me, in the situation he has put me in.
Easy.
Not always simple, but easy. As long as I keep these priorities in mind and take opportunities daily, not putting them off.
So…I can certainly develop kindness with every chance to help someone out.
I can take time to write a few thoughts. I can't draw or paint, although I am beginning to wonder if I might be able to if I tried, but I can use words.
I can become more expert at organising my class, a church cleaning party, a Bible study for home group, and keeping my house clean and tidy. Well, the latter isn't done quite so well. That area of my organisational abilities probably needs developing more than others.
So God is like a photographer in the darkroom of life, maybe. The developing fluid sloshing over the imprinted photographic paper is life with all its challenges, sloshing over us. As we respond, our picture – who we are – emerges. How God must be delighted to see the completed photo emerging!
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