New Series: Systematic Living
Jun 19th
Upon (re)starting this blogging endeavor, I realized I had alot to say along one general topic trajectory. This idea is one that crosses many specific topics but is something that I, personally, have tried to avoid more and more over the years. Its the idea of “systematic living“. As many of us make conscious decisions in the direction of our lives (and the beliefs we hold) there’s always a pressure to fit into a systematic way of thinking. We have an array of “ready made” choices and we’re pressured into choosing one of them and living inside that box.
All aspects of our lives get squeezed, pushed, folded, or jammed into one of these ready made boxes. Republican or Democrat. Vegetarian or Meat Eater. Christian or Non-Christian, Atkins or Low Fat, Workaholic or Lazy Freeloader, Hippie or Yuppie. These pre-defined ways of living help us easily make choices. It makes it easy to see a piece of meat and decide to eat it or not because I’m either a herbivore or a carnivore. It’s much too difficult, every time we’re presented with a choice to make an unique decision, rather than give a stock answer determined by our “-isms”.
In my view, systematic living and systematic thinking is one of the biggest problems in Western culture. We’ve been told that we only have x-amount of options and that we must choose one. I reject this false choice. My experience and my soul tells me that the options are infinite and that I’m able to, not only choose from these pre-fab decisions, but that I’m able to mix and match without regard for the system. I’m able to be a chef with the world at my fingertips instead of a consumer who orders off a limited McMenu.
Is this sounding a little idealistic to you? Maybe a little naive? If I was an 18 year old kid fresh out of high school, that might be true. But the longer I live, the MORE I see this reality of “the man” implementing pre-sets on my life. My daily addition of knowledge only confirms that society praises group-think and punishes individualism.
So, as these next few blog posts move forward, I hope you’ll evaluate some of your life choices and worldviews along with me. It’s easy for all of us to think that we’re unique and that our choices are our own…but the insane popularity of chain restaurants, pop culture, and Coca Cola betray you. They instead tell us how the large majority (including you?) only sees the few options laid out in front of them and chooses one without any second thought.
Writing Equals Thinking
Jun 18th
Yes, it’s true. My blog is back after a good 2+ years away. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this yet and I’m not quite sure I have much to say. The reality is, I’ve been verbally blank for, at least, the last 6 months. I have few thoughts beyond “mmmm….peanut butter” or “Drupal sucks, it should be better”. My mind hasn’t been in the gutter or soaring to new hights…it’s pretty much been sitting in an Ikea desk chair staring at a screen.
While I don’t know what I’ll write about, I know why I’m writing. I want to start thinking again. Back when I blogged frequently, my brain was functioning at a higher level. I had new ideas, new thoughts, new opinions. I didn’t write because I wanted to get them out….I had them because I wrote. There’s something about a consistent writing habit that makes the brain move and operate in ways that it doesn’t normally. It forces you to put ideas to paper (or keyboard) which means they have to be formed into words and sentences and paragraphs…all with a lucid point. I think this is why Journalling is so talked about in Christian circles: It’s the written word that makes spirituality, the un-seen, visible. It’s thereputic but it’s also inspiring.
In the past, my blogs have mostly been a venue for bitching about the world, the church, or pop-culture. It made alot of people upset and alot of people uncomfortable. Those topics caused me to stress-out when people disagreed, but they also help me GET the stress out in a way that, honestly, is currently destroying me. Keeping that inside makes you sick…and I’m tired of feeling sick.
I’m always passionate about the right and wrong paths that the Christian church in America is taking. But I think, in some ways, I’m beyond that. Not because I’ve gotten older or more mature…but because I see The Church (in general, yet not specifically) as a total mess which is beyond repair. So, while I’m sure I’ll complain about and jab at Christianity, I have a feeling it will be with less vigor…kinda like a Mike Tyson who would rather just eat a cheeseburger than fight Holyfield.
So, here’s to blogging and it’s remedy for the soul. May it (this time) live long and prosper.
(oh, and yes, this is a Wordpress blog for any nerds that care….)
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