Barriers April 17, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: experience, leadership, young, youth
comments closed
One of the barriers we present to young people is that of age, usually linked with experience. We, that are older, often assume that our life experience gives us a head start. This is not necessarily accurate.
If Getty is right, experience counts less and less as change happens more rapidly. This has consequences for how we work with our younger generations as the playing field is flattened.
Don’t assume that you ate immune from this, it is an historical problem. Someone rather famous once spoke to a young man called Timothy (2000yrs back) and said “dont let anyone look down on you because you are young…..”
what next…..now lent is over April 10, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: change, fast, future, lent
comments closed
So many people gave things up for Lent…..just over 40 days where they abstained, removed or altered their lifestyle. Easter Sunday saw many of them eat chocolate, stop the workouts, engage on social networks again and more.
The question that I now have, if you go back to the way you were before, why bother at all? If it changes things, if you are different, if reflection has led to change then, and only then, it becomes worthwhile. If not, it is possible that it was a pointless exercise.
So, now that Lent is over, what’s next?
transformation or production April 3, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings, thoughts.Tags: charity, development, growth, production, transformation
comments closed
Having worked for a number of charities, it is interesting to observe the changes as a fledgling charity grows to maturity. Often, a new charity is focussed on people and the transformation/s that occur in peoples lives, it brings life, encourages others to participate and there is a real sense of ownership. However, in time, it is possible that significant shifts may occur, shifts that seem insignificant but in time will move the charity from a focus on transformation to one of production.
For example, a youth charity may begin by impacting the lives of young people and with success there may be dreams of meeting more young people, in order to help and support them. It makes sense to meet them in a place where they spend most time, school. This approach is good, makes sense and is fruitful. However, it does not take too long before the measure of success becomes, how many lessons have been taken, how many assemblies, how many lunch clubs. Whilst these things are not wrong, it does show a shift from transformation to production. A slight move from the centre will impact the place of destination – the measure has moved from how many lives are transformed to the place of how many activities we do, so that we may transform lives. This is a subtle but significant difference.
The same change can be seen in any labour of love as it grows and develops, as others join the cause and as funders seek to make ‘a bigger bang for their buck’ - the question we need to concentrate on is, which is most important, transformation or production?
to be ignored….. April 2, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings, thoughts.Tags: honesty, ignorance, ignore, integrity, leadership, relationships
comments closed
It is amazing how often we hear it…..maybe, even said it ourselves (we know we have!) that someone is “ignoring me”. It is more common than we think. However, is it really true? Is it that we are being ignored or that people are not communicating with us in the way we would want/need or demand?
Let’s have an example. If I have reason to doubt that someone is honest, I tend to go quiet with them. I will say hello or respond if they happen to talk with me but will not go out of my way to begin a new conversation, after all, I am doubting if they are trustworthy. If they respond in a similar way, it is not fair of me to say that the individual is ‘ignoring me’ – they happen to be responding in kind.
A better response is to ask, why is my communication with this individual lacking? It may be that before you accuse them of ignoring you, you may have to remove the log from your own eye.
Milestones March 27, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings, thoughts.Tags: markers, milestones
comments closed
Milestones are important.
We have regular markers set in our diaries – birthdays, christmas, and a host of anniversaries. Why are they so important? It gives us time to reflect, time to celebrate and time to dream.
Milestones are important.
can you care too much? March 26, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: attention, care
comments closed
It was a shock to hear someone say that a particular individual cared too much for someone. The statement provoked me into thinking around why someone could use this in a negative way – is it really possible to care too much?
My thoughts led me to believe that the accuser had a wrong interpretation of the word “care” – it is not possible to care too much, if care demands that you do the best for someone. The accuser was wrong, if there was a problem, the better accusation should be “you do not care enough”, then it would make sense.
It is not possible to care too much for anyone!
Is trust genuine? March 19, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: con, deceit, hustle, lies, people, relationship, the con is on, trust
comments closed
One of my favourite TV shows is Hustle, sadly ended but a wonderful show. The concept of the show demonstrated that people who are greedy can be ‘hustled’ into parting with their cash if they feel they can have more. The gang would build a ‘facade of trust’ and through this the con could be completed.
I have been pondering how people often ‘hustle’ their way through life by building a facade of trust, yet fail to deliver. They draw people in, use them for their own ends and then spit them out. Harsh? Maybe, but by raising the question, I am convinced that a number of readers are now thinking through their contacts and labelling someone to watch out for.
Be careful, the Con is On!
Silence Children in Church March 16, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: adults, children, church
comments closed
A little while ago, on my personal twitter stream, I tweeted the following:
“At baptism/dedication we welcome children into family of church to spend rest of childhood in a back room while adults do church. Why?“
There were a few re-tweets and 2 comments in response – not overwhelming when you consider the millions that are on twitter but interesting nonetheless. One of the reasons that I asked the question was that the words of welcome we use appear to last for the one service (in some churches anyway!) and wonder why they fall off the radar at a later age. I do not have a solution but there seems to be a problem that needs solving – off to find resolution.
Comments April 21, 2012
Posted by thehutch in ponderings.Tags: blog, Comments, thoughts
comments closed
For a while now, this blog has had comments switched off. Is that a good thing? Not a good thing?
If people want to converse, there is email or twitter.
Good or bad? Comments on? Comments off?