Faith Venture

I am old enough now to reflect on successes and shortcomings. Of all the things I should have done was to learn to ask questions. Especially of others. I look back at a bad decision and think that I should have asked my professor for advice on where to go and what to do. I never thought to seek advice. People probably thought it was arrogance, but it was really out of debilitating shyness.

There are further reflections. How about the times where I feel the need to have the right answer. I bet most of you suffer from the same trait. Saying, “I don’t know” is akin to admitting defeat.

But saying “I don’t know, but let’s find out” is liberating. That is asking the right question.

The beginner chases the right answers. The master chases the right questions.

It’s all about data.

I’ve written that on my technology blog. Maybe half of my topics have involved data—finding, gathering, storing, analyzing, visualizing, using to make decisions.

We may see data in our favorite news source. The trouble with that lies in the choices of which data to show and which interpretation to emphasize. Often that flows from the point of view of the writer/broadcaster. The same data will have different emphases on Fox or on MSNBC. (I assume; I watch neither.)

For example, many years ago there was much data about how emissions in the US going into the atmosphere returned to earth in the form of acid rain. Dire predictions ensued. Those events never happened.

Why?

First came the cynics. The world is ending.

Then came the people who saw opportunity. I was involved in more than one project to scrub carbon from refinery emissions. That happened all over the country. Many technologies were developed to clean emissions.

We have much current data on changing weather patterns dubbed Climate Change. It’s real, but it does not have to be the end.

All over the globe engineers and entrepreneurs are working to find solutions to the causes. 

We can choose how to react. We can choose to be cynical, dystopian, and fearful. We can choose to find solutions. 

This works for climate problems. It works for problems in your organization or family. Which attitude sounds better to you?

It’s not our disagreements that cause division. It’s contempt that causes division.

So often our attitudes define our relationships and actions. 

Can we have honest discussions with others about religion, faith, politics, or our community? Can we listen with holding someone who disagrees in contempt assuming lack of intelligence? Can we speak civilly without condescension in our tone of voice?

I come back to listening. Can we even listen? What are they really saying? What is the emotion they are holding? What needs do they feel that we should be hearing? Maybe not with agreement, but with empathy.

We have all known people who seem to look upon others with contempt. They assume such superiority.

We don’t want to be one of those people. 

Note: Today we are returning home from a 10-day vacation to Turkey and Greece. More later. I’ve been posting things I wrote a year ago. This post was written a year ago following another business trip to Florida. But it’s relevant to our trip this month.

I am traveling again. Not as much as the old days in the industry, but it’s nice to get out after the pandemic lockdown days.

Traveling can be tiring. The three hour maintenance delay of my flight was not that stressful. Then a taxi to the conference hotel. Directly to the press conference room. Meet people, listen to presentations, take notes, digest information. Then to meet people, ask questions, absorb more information. Eat very little. Walk 1.5 miles to my hotel. It’s 9 pm and I’m tired. 

Now, the question is, I got in my steps, but when to do strength and flexibility work? 

It’s attitude. 

With a positive, energetic attitude, I can work in a little Yoga and write. Or, scan email from for the first time in several hours, send a couple of text messages, get in a few minutes of Duolingo language study to keep my 159-day streak alive, and go to bed.

It’s attitude that either allows me or prevents me from overeating 

It’s attitude that guides me to my daily mediation even with a different schedule and environment.

It’s my attitude that I must nurture. And allow it to guide me in the proper direction.

Guard your attitude. It makes all the difference.

Consider this story told by Jesus.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

I heard someone say that there are many books and teachers instructing with tips on how to begin. You know, get busy and get started.

How often have we been taught how to finish?

How often are we like the first three “seeds” in Jesus metaphorical farm?

• We get an idea—write a book, cook a meal for someone, do a project—then the idea flits away like finches in the bush.
• We get an idea. We’re going to take up painting. Or write that novel. Or prepare that meal to take to someone. We purchase the supplies. We’re all set. Then, something else comes to mind. All those supplies gather dust while we, well, flit off like those same finches.
• We get an idea. Friends, neighbors, relatives, strangers even, tell us we’re crazy. We can never do that. We worry we’re not good enough. We never finish.

Jesus was right—again. We must learn to finish what we start. That makes for a satisfying life. Don’t be like the shoe slogan—just do it. Be more like—I did it, and I’m happy that I did. Now, what’s next.