Using the Shift Key (Part One)
So I had someone ask me yesterday if I knew how to use the shift key. Apparently some might be a bit bothered by the absence of capitalization in my blog so far. No offence intended! I know the person who asked me about this was concerned for the effectiveness of my blog, and I am truly grateful. I've had reasons for my non-use of caps, and am still pondering the pros and cons of a future use of the shift key for blog and ministry purposes. But so as not to distract for the moment: the shift key is functioning today!
Reflecting on the shift key has made me think about shift; the experience of change, alteration, new direction, an embrace of new things, new ideas, new adventures, new priorities.
Please know up front that I'm aware that many today are change addicts: they've never met a new gadget, game-plan, or guru that they haven't liked and then tried for five minutes. They press the shift key after every five letters. Such change addiction is a crippling life and heart concern.
But that said, I think all of us humans are notoriously change resisters (if you think about it, it's because of an unchanging fear of being bored or appearing boring, that even the change addict resists exchanging his change addiction for something a bit less changeable). As I've come to see it, there's no real virtue in change resistance. Change is good, so long as there's reason for it. In fact, growth, by definition, is change. Using life's shift key is really a good thing.
Over the next few days, I'm going to indulge a little reflection on shifts that have happened in my life. I'll leave it to you to decide whether they've signaled growth or not. But for now, can I offer a few clues as to when I think it's time to use life's shift key? Here are a few "it's -time-to-change" signals:
1. When the Bible says one thing and you're believing or doing another, it's time to change.
2. When a new direction or style will do more people more good over the long haul--so long as it is not unbiblical, it's time to change.
3. When a shift of approach will connect to the lost more effectively (without compromising the essence of the gospel), it's time to change.
4. When the old ways no longer enlarge your mind, stir your emotions, and stretch your comfort zones, and have instead become mindless, dull, passionless, and comfortable, it's time to change.
What do you think? I'd love to know. Hey, there's a change I'd love for more of you to make. Click comments, type a few thoughts, click anonymous if you don't have an account, and send your reply. It's more fun if you include your name in the typed thoughts, but it isn't necessary.
Go ahead. Use life's shift key and log in your response.
Reflecting on the shift key has made me think about shift; the experience of change, alteration, new direction, an embrace of new things, new ideas, new adventures, new priorities.
Please know up front that I'm aware that many today are change addicts: they've never met a new gadget, game-plan, or guru that they haven't liked and then tried for five minutes. They press the shift key after every five letters. Such change addiction is a crippling life and heart concern.
But that said, I think all of us humans are notoriously change resisters (if you think about it, it's because of an unchanging fear of being bored or appearing boring, that even the change addict resists exchanging his change addiction for something a bit less changeable). As I've come to see it, there's no real virtue in change resistance. Change is good, so long as there's reason for it. In fact, growth, by definition, is change. Using life's shift key is really a good thing.
Over the next few days, I'm going to indulge a little reflection on shifts that have happened in my life. I'll leave it to you to decide whether they've signaled growth or not. But for now, can I offer a few clues as to when I think it's time to use life's shift key? Here are a few "it's -time-to-change" signals:
1. When the Bible says one thing and you're believing or doing another, it's time to change.
2. When a new direction or style will do more people more good over the long haul--so long as it is not unbiblical, it's time to change.
3. When a shift of approach will connect to the lost more effectively (without compromising the essence of the gospel), it's time to change.
4. When the old ways no longer enlarge your mind, stir your emotions, and stretch your comfort zones, and have instead become mindless, dull, passionless, and comfortable, it's time to change.
What do you think? I'd love to know. Hey, there's a change I'd love for more of you to make. Click comments, type a few thoughts, click anonymous if you don't have an account, and send your reply. It's more fun if you include your name in the typed thoughts, but it isn't necessary.
Go ahead. Use life's shift key and log in your response.
Labels: Change and Growth
3 Comments:
Love this post. I am definitely one of the people who fights change. I have loosened my grip on being unchanging a lot over the years, pretty much because I realize God loves good change! But I would say that point #2 would be the one aspect of change that I have a problem with. I guess I am of the thought "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." As long as it doesn't turn into a sin issue, of course.
Is this bad?
And is this blog for everyone, or am I stepping into "Men Only" territory?? =)
Thanks Anna. No this is not for men only!
The key on point two is one of strategic progress and loving care for the most possible amount of people. The fact that something might have worked to reach a lot of people in the past, and might even be working still to reach some people right now does not mean it is the best way to do it for the future. If a new course of action can reach and help even more people over the long haul--then I think change is in order!
The present way may not be broken, but it may need a tune up or upgrade!
That's my take anyway.
Thanks for engaging in this!
Tim
I'm thinking one of the big issues here is our natural resistance to seeing when what we're doing isn't working and needs to change, if that makes sense. We're hard wired to hang on to our comfortable ways of doing life, believing it will start working--eventually--in the face of compelling evidence to the contrary. If life were a little more like football game, and we could see the clock running down, and the scoreboard showing our desperate situation... we might realize we need to try something different. Change for the sake of change isn't the answer, but change (shift) as surrender to the wisdom of God and his grace, even if it is an expression of desperation, is what we need to embrace.
tdb
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