Gary Mintchell

Author Archive

Expanding Frontier of Ignorance

August 4, 2023

I recently saw this reference to the acclaimed physicist Richard Feynman who talked of living on the expanding frontier of ignorance, where each closed door leads to several newly opened ones.

How many people along the path of Christian (or other) spiritual path have you found who know it all? Actually, I’m a bit embarrassed this week. Twice I ran into people who said if they ever wanted to know something they would ask me since I would know. I think they were all joking.

But I have lived a life beginning in my mid-teens where I lived on that frontier of ignorance powered by curiosity. In high school I rather neglected my official studies for I was deep into studying both electronics and philosophy (Marx, Freud, St. John of the Cross—I was an equal opportunity reader).

I still live on the frontier of ignorance. I actually wish that for you. Whenever we think we know everything, we are stuck. And also most likely not welcome dinner partners. It’s OK to know things, but it is better to foster curiosity about the things you don’t. Always be open to learning something new. Be like a 2-year-old. Always exploring. Always the joy of discovery.

Posted in Disciplines, Learning | Leave a Comment »

Dream Dreams To Pass On To Others

August 3, 2023

I am not Roman Catholic, but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating Catholic leaders and thought. This from Pope Francis I found especially meaningful.

The prophet Joel once promised: “Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men will have visions” (3:1). The future of the world depends on this covenant between young and old. Who, if not the young, can take the dreams of the elderly and make them come true? Yet for this to happen, it is necessary that we continue to dream. Our dreams of justice, of peace, of solidarity, can make it possible for our young people to have new visions; in this way, together, we can build the future.

The challenge for those of us a bit past prime time—what are we dreaming that we wish would have been better? How are we passing those dreams to the new generation?

Posted in Disciplines, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

Not Just Listening To His Words But Acting Upon Them

August 2, 2023

Yesterday I looked at Jesus’ teaching about not just listening to his words but acting on them.

This from a health and fitness newsletter that intentionally comes my way:

People will post about schools failing our kids on social media and never offer to volunteer at an after-school program or as a tutor. They’ll tweet about childhood obesity but never think of coaching youth sports. Their Facebooks are filled with complaints about rising homelessness, but they’ve never donated or volunteered to help expand shelters. They’ll say our politics are rigged but never volunteer to collect signatures to get political reforms on the ballot or through the legislatures.

If you want to complain about something, stop, and find something you can do about it.

I was president of an organization once upon a time. A prominent man approached me one day. A thoroughly capable professional with an interest in our purpose. He said he had an idea. I said, wow, that sounds great. Would you like to lead that initiative? He disappeared.

Ideas, complaints, suggestions—they are all cheap. The trick is not just listening to the words but acting upon them. That is all the difference.

Posted in Doing | Leave a Comment »

Keeping Yourself Firmly Grounded

August 1, 2023

Carole King put it, “I feel the earth move under my feet…”

Jimmy Buffet sang, “Earth she’s movin’ under me…”

These are powerful images. We expect the earth to be solid under our feet. When we teach Mountain Pose in Yoga (standing upright), we lead the students to feel their feet firmly grounded as they lengthen their spine yet relaxing their shoulders. Feel strong and grounded like a mountain.

The relaxation meditation I used last night told us to sit in the chair, place our feet flat on the ground, and feel grounded to the solid earth.

We want our emotions grounded. Not like air, moving randomly this way and that.

Building our spiritual, emotional, and intellectual life upon a solid foundation leads to a stable life ready to grow and serve.

Perhaps Jesus had something like that in mind when he told us, To hear my words and do them is like building a house on a solid foundation of rock where the rains, and the storms, and the winds came and yet did not destroy it.

Posted in Attention, Awareness | Leave a Comment »

Beyond Labeling People

July 31, 2023

Our brains have less work to do when we can devise shortcuts. Thinking is hard work requiring attention, focus, and energy.

One of my favorite detective novel series comes from Rex Stout whose lead character is an overweight, narcissistic “genius” private detective called Nero Wolfe who hates to go to work. One sub-theme of the series involves the assistant, Archie Goodwin, trying to find the appropriate time to prod, cajole, irritate Wolfe into working—which in this case is thinking.

Thinking is hard work.

Reading from a late 18^th Century German philosopher where he complained about contemporary philosophers were dismissing one of the previous generation by applying labels. Labels serve no good purpose toward understanding, wrote FWJ Schelling.

A psychologist explaining autism to an interviewer mentioned that higher functioning people with autism resisted the label of autistic preferring to being acknowledged as people with different social skills. Labels often cause harm. People become easily dismissed.

We look at someone and immediately apply a label. We now can adjust our attitude of how to relate…or not. Or we hear someone or read something they wrote or listen to someone else describe them.

How often have I been surprised when I’ve taken the time for a conversation and listened. The label disintegrates before my eyes as I discover the person beneath the label.

Maybe I mute you on Facebook, because I don’t wish to see the information you’re reposting. Yet, there is a person with hopes and fears and pressures and pleasures.

Behind the label exists a human. One of God’s children. Worthy of respect and consideration.

Posted in Listening, Thinking | Leave a Comment »

Beyond the Law

July 28, 2023

How many people do you know who think they are beyond the law? Maybe you are one?

Maybe it is driving your car faster than the posted speed limit? Perhaps thinking Stop signs are merely a suggestion? Maybe more serious than that, such as, cheating on income tax or stealing something from your company or organization? I’ve seen people stealing time—being paid for doing something and collecting the money without doing the work. This even extends to physical or emotional abuse, sexual activities, or worse.

Paul the Apostle liked to write about freedom from the Law. His life had been devoted to learning about and following the Jewish Law. One day he experienced blindness, an event that completely shook his foundations. Then God got his attention. He discovered a life filled with the spirit. That life was beyond the Law.

He preached that and wrote about it. The problem was that these early (and many later) Christ Followers were confused. They said, “Hallelujah! We don’t have to follow the law. We can do whatever we want!”

Paul said, “Whoa, guys. Not so fast.”

It’s not about ignoring the law. Life in the spirit means we don’t focus on the law because life in the spirit naturally does the intent of the laws.

Freedom doesn’t mean that we are above the law like a rebellious teenager. Freedom means that we don’t have to worry about it continuously. It means living in the spirit we will behave responsibly because that is what people in the spirit do.

I think Paul went to his grave trying to explain that. Even today we have people who miss the freedom part and read Paul for a list of new laws. Or we have people who, like the early Christians in Corinth, absorbed the freedom part without the responsibility part.

What a balancing act we must perform while living in the spirit. Freedom and responsibility.

Posted in Disciplines, Freedom, responsibility | Leave a Comment »

Productive or Effective?

July 27, 2023

Some economists and journalists looking for a passing story bemoaned statistics revealing a lack of productivity increase over a stated period of time.

Is this really a problem?

Whatever your job, whether in a business or church or other organization, do you feel that you have productivity metrics?

Number of meetings attended
Number of memos sent
Number of articles written

Maybe what is more important is fewer meetings that actually accomplish an objective. Maybe it is effective communication that clearly explains or motivates change. Maybe something written with more depth and less gloss.

Are you working on a really big and juicy problem? Those take time to solve. That may not look good on your productivity chart. It may be really important work.

Posted in productivity, Work | Leave a Comment »

Discipline Means Building Consistency

July 26, 2023

One of the authors of a health and fitness newsletter cited studies that revealed the most important ingredient for fitness training is consistency. He often says to strive for no zero-percent weeks.

Spiritual disciplines advocates from Dallas Willard and Richard J. Foster to Ignatius and Benedict to Paul the Apostle and Jesus himself show as much as tell the values of consistent practices. Paul often uses athletic metaphors to explain spiritual growth. Athletes have focus and consistent practice in order to succeed. That is true whether 2,000 years ago or tomorrow.

Discipline is the building of a lifestyle of consistency of practice. We read, meditate, exercise, eat well (and not too much) with no zero-percent weeks.

Posted in Disciplines, focus | Leave a Comment »

Bring Mind and Heart Like an Open Vessel to Your Study

July 25, 2023

I try not to bring my prejudices and biases to my reading of the Bible; rather, I try to let the Bible speak to my prejudices and biases.

That thought came to me some time ago. I think about that. Is it true?

Ancient philosophy speaks often to the empty jar. Only the empty jar is useful. One that is filled is of no use to your current situation.

Similarly, the hole in the middle of a wheel. Only the emptiness of the hole makes it useful for supporting a bicycle or cart.

When we come to spiritual writing with our minds filled with ideas and theories, we are not open to the calling of the spirit in the words. We cannot hear when we are talking.

Approach the reading of sacred text open to the calling of the spirit. Inhale deeply to the bottom of your body through the mouth. Exhale slowly, completely, until depleted. By emptying ourselves we become ready to listen to another.

Posted in Listening, Study | Leave a Comment »

True Wealth–A Random List

July 24, 2023

I picked up this list from a tweet by one of my favorite modern writers, Nassim Nicholas Taleb. He wrote Black Swan, Fooled by Randomness, among other books. This is one of those lists you can tape above your desk and contemplate often.

TRUE WEALTH (2nd Ed)

Worriless sleeping
Clear conscience
Reciprocal gratitude
Absence of envy
Foamy coffee
Crusty bread
Inexperienced enemies
Frequent laughs
No meals alone
No gym classes
Gravel bicycling
Good digestive functions
No Zoom meetings
Periodic surprises
Nothing to hide: financial and fiscal tranquility
Muscular strength & endurance
Ability to nap
Access to a hammock

Note: That was from a tweet, as on Twitter. By the time you read this, Twitter may be X. Elon Musk seems to think X is a manly character. He says he’s changing the name of the service this week. Some people have more money than sense.

Posted in Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

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