I love the process of writing. I was joking with my friend Carol the other day about the comparisons that people throw around regarding writing a book and child-birth. As she says “I’ve done both. They are nothing alike.”
I think I’ll trust her.
And yet, I’ll still use the metaphor. :)
Right now, this book is “gestating” in my head and heart. It’s being formed into the basics of what it is. Pretty soon, I’m just gonna have to PUSH! and birth this beautiful mess, but right now the limbs and organs are still forming.
One thing that is becoming increasingly clear to me is that there are “churchy” words and ideas commensurate with the themes Surowiecki gives in Wisdom of Crowds (no surprise there, really), but I was not clear on what they were til today. Now that I’ve identified them, I’m starting to really settle down.
Specifically, here’s what I’m thinking:
Promoting, defending and ensuring diversity (chapter 4) = hospitality
Doing everything possible to ensure that anyone can be a part of the process of mission and ministry is no different than the age-old posture of making sure that “there’s enough room at the table.” right?
Promoting, defending and ensuring independent thought (chapter 5) = discernment
Facilitating a group in such a way that everyone can contribute and so that no one is shut out or dominates seems to sound a lot like group trying to attend to the will of God in Christ to me. You?
Promoting, defending and ensuring decentralization (chapter 6) = empowering call/vocation
Getting out of people’s way and allowing them to use the gifts, skills, and passions that God has given them feels like what I see when I watch John the Baptist call out “Behold, the Lamb of God!” and when I read of Paul starting communities and then setting them free to be the church as they need to be in their own places.
So…hospitality, discernment, empowering people in their call… Know of any examples of those?
Looking forward to seeing more of the book Landon!
Posted by: Randy Hobson | 07/28/2010 at 01:39 PM