Comments on: Following Lance’s Lead http://shallowthinker.com/2009/08/following-lances-lead/ No deep thoughts here...try somewhere else. Tue, 22 May 2012 01:09:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Alana http://shallowthinker.com/2009/08/following-lances-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-23750 Alana Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:10:00 +0000 http://shallowthinker.com/?p=1570#comment-23750 So, in all seriousness, I'm wondering if I'm having trouble following this because I'm sort of an outsider. I guess the implication, at least for me, is that people who whisper in church or go to certain establishments are like children? It is a little patronizing, I think, even if it's not intended to be. I'm actually not a church whisperer and take church rituals rather seriously, which is why I choose churches with liturgy many would call "boring," but I'd never presume that people who whisper in church are somehow less spiritual or faithful. Inconsiderate of the rest of us, maybe, but not necessarily less committed. I guess to me the essay came across as a bit patronizing at points. I'm sure your intended message is a good one, and I think on the whole I get it, but if you are trying to reach out to people I think you might have missed the mark. It gives the impression that there are very specific ways one must behave in order to be part of your group, I guess, and it's not clear to me if you are encouraging or condemning that attitude. But again, I am probably lacking context. Anyway, I do love the point you make about Jesus reaching out to all kinds of people. My favorite thing about that is that he often did so without expectations. I think expectations are the things that hold us back the most as human beings. I wonder if maybe reflecting on that a bit more might help, because it sounds like maybe that's really what you are getting at? I'm not really sure. So, in all seriousness, I’m wondering if I’m having trouble following this because I’m sort of an outsider. I guess the implication, at least for me, is that people who whisper in church or go to certain establishments are like children? It is a little patronizing, I think, even if it’s not intended to be. I’m actually not a church whisperer and take church rituals rather seriously, which is why I choose churches with liturgy many would call “boring,” but I’d never presume that people who whisper in church are somehow less spiritual or faithful. Inconsiderate of the rest of us, maybe, but not necessarily less committed.

I guess to me the essay came across as a bit patronizing at points. I’m sure your intended message is a good one, and I think on the whole I get it, but if you are trying to reach out to people I think you might have missed the mark. It gives the impression that there are very specific ways one must behave in order to be part of your group, I guess, and it’s not clear to me if you are encouraging or condemning that attitude. But again, I am probably lacking context.

Anyway, I do love the point you make about Jesus reaching out to all kinds of people. My favorite thing about that is that he often did so without expectations. I think expectations are the things that hold us back the most as human beings. I wonder if maybe reflecting on that a bit more might help, because it sounds like maybe that’s really what you are getting at? I’m not really sure.

]]>