making sense of a dysfunctional culture
Many of you seem to have noticed that I’ve virtually disappeared lately. I’ve been getting emails asking what’s going on, and I wanted to give you a brief explanation.
So turn your sound on or put on your earbuds and hit “play.” I hope this will help explain why I’ve disappeared and when I might return.
When I first discovered the idea of unschooling, it was so radical that I had trouble finding people who even knew what it was. Today, the idea is mainstream enough that major media outlets sometimes cover the topic in a favorable way. The Sunday newspaper supplement called Parade had a strongly favorable article about unschooling a couple of weeks ago which explained what it is and how it’s different from homeschooling. It’s less structured. There’s no curriculum. There’s plenty of flexibility. And there are no tests and grades. (Most people today are shocked to learn that testing and grading didn’t exist in schools through history until the last couple hundred years.) If you want your children to think for themselves instead of following the herd mentality that pervades every school I’ve been part of, you owe it to yourself — and to your kids — to consider taking control of your children’s development back from governments. Just because you and I survived institutional schools doesn’t mean it’s the wisest choice. Start by reading the Parade article. It might open your eyes.
I’ve always been confused by what Jesus commanded about loving my enemies.
You see, I’m pretty good about loving those who love me. That feels right. It feels fair. And it’s easy. Surely Jesus wasn’t serious about loving the people who didn’t love us. He didn’t know these jerks I have to put up with. He didn’t know the drivers I want to yell at in traffic. He didn’t know the idiots I have to put up with at work. And he certainly didn’t know these jerks on Facebook who disagree with me.
If Jesus knew the people I hate, he would hate them, too. Right?
For most of us, love is a transaction, just like a transaction at a store. When I buy something, I get a product or service and I hand over something of value. It’s an exchange. That’s the way we tend to see love.
“If you love me — and if you‘re good to me — I’ll love you and be good to you. But if you stop loving me, I’m going to hate you.”
We might or might not admit that, but it’s how we mostly act. For those of us who are Christians, we might try not to hate others. We might try to force ourselves to love those we don’t want to love. We keep promising ourselves we’ll do better.
But we can’t do better — because the ego that is making the guilty promise is the entire problem.
Primitive instincts: Why do we ‘fall in love’ with politicians?
How many of these Christmas myths did you assume were from the Bible?
Is anyone surprised at gridlock of congressional ‘super committee’?
Briefly: Modern culture seems to be coming apart
Briefly: Maybe some of us need training in how to be happy
Briefly: Today, I feel like taking six months off to make a film
FRIDAY FUNNIES
Ground Weasel Day is important in predicting next four political years
Why is it so hard to make good art? It’s something I’ll never understand