Vacation is coming! It's now just two short weeks away.
Our beach vacations typically include the following daily activities:
- Wake up and eat some cinnamon rolls or a bowl of cereal
- Lay on the beach and play in the surf for a couple of hours
- Swim in the pool for 30 minutes
- Afternoon naps (or shopping if we're feeling well rested)
- Early dinner to feast on fresh seafood
- Some type of evening activity (mini-golf, movie, shopping, etc.)
- Playing cards until bedtime
- Laura and I sitting on the balcony or walking the beach late at night (and me lighting up a cigar!)
There's usually a day of golf or fishing thrown in for me...or like this year...we're planning to rent a boat one day.
It's a good time. It's refreshing. And it's always over too soon!
Why do we long for vacation? Are our daily lives really that miserable...or boring...or tiring? The sad answer in most cases, is probably "yes." We have overburdened ourselves with busy-ness, and refused to take a true "Sabbath" on a weekly basis. Sure, we may go to church, or eat Sunday dinner with the family. But does our "day of rest" really serve it's purpose? The true purpose of the Sabbath...the very reason it exists according to scripture...is for RESTORATION.
My "sabbaths" rarely result in true restoration. Oh, sometimes that's the case. But not nearly often enough!
In the evangelical world, we celebrate Christ's resurrection on Sunday (the first day of the week). While it is not the actual Sabbath from a Biblical standpoint, it is a sensible day to use for the Sabbath. But even our Sundays are packed full of activity, frustration, and sometimes work (to get caught up on the stuff we didn't get done during the week!).
I don't want to go over the top here. Even Jesus "broke" the Sabbath on occasion...or did He?
In Mark 2, He was criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath so He would have something to eat. At that point, He pointed this out in Mark 2:27-28. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Jesus is basically saying here that the point of the Sabbath was not just for God to have some other law to enforce - but it was created for the good of man!
In John 7, Jesus comes under more attack for performing a miracle on the Sabbath. And His response...in typical Jesus fashion...doesn't just rebuke the Pharisees...but offers an ever deeper understanding of the true intent of the Sabbath. Look at Jesus' words in John 7:23. "Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?"
So here we have Jesus explaining not only the design of the Sabbath (for healing and restoration) but also how that lines up with the overall purpose of His ministry (see Isaiah 61 for more details).
This brings me back to my own abuse of the Sabbath. It's not even logical that I don't take time to slow down and rest and reflect. If God is big enough and powerful enough and gracious enough and loving enough to make a way for my salvation through Jesus, then why wouldn't I take advantage of the other gifts He offers? Gifts like the Sabbath. An opportunity to stop and reflect on a busy week. An opportunity to rest and recover physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even God - who needs no rest - indicated the importance of the Sabbath to us when He rested on the 7th day after creation. Why do we think we DON'T need it? How prideful can we be? Oh me of little faith! Like the world would stop turning or my life would turn to shambles if I just laid down my busy-ness once a week to rest...who do I think I am?
And suddenly it becomes so clear why I value my vacation. I'm trying to jam 52 weeks worth of un-rest into 7 days! That kind of math will never add up. Trying jam 52 days of rest into 7! No wonder I think it's over too soon every year!
Now, I'm not being legalistic here. There are certainly folks who work on Sundays, or there are acts of necessity that must be accomplished. And sometimes, there are just things that need to be done - and Jesus made it clear that Sabbath was made for our benefit - and not to make another law for us to follow. But the Sabbath...true restful, restorative Sabbath...is good for us. We should strive to find a day of rest every week...even though we know there will be exceptions.
But I guess my real point is that we let those exceptions become the rule. Even if you work on Sundays...there should be some other day of the week that can just be set aside for restoration. It doesn't necessarily mean we do nothing and lay around all day. But maybe sometimes it should!
Now I'm thinking about the fact that next Sunday, we're hosting a party at the house. And while we'll enjoy it...it will definitely not be a day of rest for us. So we need to find another day this week to make sure that we rest our minds and bodies. It honors God. It keeps our pride in check. It makes us stronger and fresher for the daily grind we often face. It gives us a chance to be quiet and hear from Him. And let our hearts just sort of recharge.
When are you going to observe your Sabbath this week? You need it. I need it.
If we can learn to truly enjoy the benefits of God's plan for weekly restoration...then maybe we could enjoy those vacations even more...and we won't be quite as sad when they're over!
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Thanks for reading my blog! I'm trying to get regular about writing again.
The purpose of my writing is not to come across as overly preachy or hyper-spiritual. It's just to process and walk though this crazy life. I write about things from music, cigars, sports, and gardening...to spiritual and church issues. Nothing's really off-limits. I guess that's because I believe God can work through anything to teach us and help us grow...whether that's a Padron 3000 cigar...or a round of golf...or a story about my kids doing something crazy. What I hope you see is an authentic life and a faith that is in the process of being developed and discovered. Sometimes it will be deep and heavy...other times it will be painfully shallow. But I'm glad you came along to look and listen. And I invite you to share and comment!
I hope you have a great day!
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June 19, 2009
So we had some pretty bad storms in Middle Tennessee this week. My driveway was covered in twigs and branches. And as much debris as there was lying around - I was thankful that I didn't lose any large limbs or trees. I believe one of the keys to that was the massive tree-trimming job that I had done in the winter. The branches that would typically fall in a storm like we had this week were already cut off and chipped into mulch. What a relief!
So...as common, everyday things usually do...the state of my yard got me thinking about my life and the Kingdom of God. As I was pondering this morning and thinking over some upcoming decisions, I had a conversation with Laura about someone we know who could only be classified as "unstable." It's a strange word..."unstable." And packed full of meaning.
That conversation with Laura raised a great scripture passage in my mind. It comes from James 1, and gives a clue about "unstable" people.
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. - James 1:5-8 (NASB.)
There is so much stuff packed into these 4 verses - but when I think about the person we called "unstable" this morning...that person is indeed a double-minded person. Always scheming and planning - thinking of themselves while disguising their selfishness in superficial deeds and "positives" for other people.
Uh-Oh! Wait just a minute! Before I go on further about the "speck" in the eye of this unstable person...I probably ought to deal with this huge plank in my own eye (Matthew 7, Luke 6).
Why does God work this way? Why haven't I learned by now? Whenever I think I'm seeing something in someone else's life...it's not that the issue doesn't exist...but that same thing is usually an even bigger problem in my own life. I mean, I struggle with selfishness, and I'm often double-minded. Maybe that's why I can so clearly see that in another person. Because I live with it right here in my own life every day! Ugh!
So, I guess I'm supposed to learn something from all of this. And I think this is it...
The passage in James 1 above tells me that the root problem is a lack of faith. And honestly, a lack of faith is so illogical. It's like saying that I can't trust God to have my best interests at heart. Hmmm. If I believe the Bible is true, and God is who He says He is, and that He died to set me free...then why can't I believe and trust Him in the smaller things? It doesn't even make sense.
Okay...so back to the trees in my yard. Many places in the Bible use the analogy of a tree to describe people. Some of my favorites are:
- Psalm 1: 3 - "for he islike a tree, planted by rivers of water...."
- Isaiah 61:3 - "They will be called oaks of righteousness...."
- Matt. 7:19 - "every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down..."
Thinking about how my trees were so stable and withstood the storms with no major damage this week...and in light of the passage in James 1...I think that it's important for me to do a little tree trimming in my own life. I need to identify those places of unbelief in my life. Places where I don't trust God completely! I must admit there are quite a few. It's going to be a little painful, and I may emerge a bit thinner (oh wouldn't that be nice) and possibly even a little misshapen. But I am confident that I will emerge stronger, and more firmly planted. And I will be prepared to weather the storms in my life without snapping in two and crashing to the ground.
I hope everyone has a great day! Here's to a little tree trimming!
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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I'm pondering this morning...just how small my life is.
I'm not dminishing my life or what I have - a beautiful wife, great kids, lovely home, good career, etc.
But in the grand scheme of things, my life seems so small. The things I worry about, what I spend my time and money doing. It just all seems kind of insignificant sometimes.
Now, I know that I'm trying to invest into other people and to raise my kids right to make an impact on future generations. So in that sense, my life has meaning. We've celebrated a lot of things, and lived through ups and downs.
But isn't there something bigger? Isn't there something more?
The simple answer is "YES". As a human being, I believe I have been born "into a larger story" as Author John Eldredge writes. I think it's what all people face at some crossroads in their life. The realization that there is something larger. Then, we all set out on a quest to find what that is and how we fit into it.
As a Christ-follower, I also know that I have a role to play in the larger story of the Kingdom. And though I've worked realled hard and even strived to find what that role is...that's not really the point. I AM ALREADY PLAYING A PART...OR A ROLE IN THE STORY. I'm not trying to find some pie in the sky. My route through the story (and my place in the kingdom) is the very path I'm walking today. Sometimes it will be tumultuous...other times victorious. Sometimes I will stand out in the crowd...other times fade into the background of the story. Some days will be tediously boring and unmemorable. There will be other days that will seem like mine is the only story ever written.
What peace there is in the knowing. That I am His and He is mine. That I don't have to strive to find some perfect part to play. He has already written me into the story of eternity - and while I will fail and fall - He will work all things together for good! I can give up the endless search for meaning...because my part in this story is being written day by day. And on those days when I don't do right, or fail or miss opportunities to soar - there is always an opportunity for redemption. Because God loves me so much, He won't settle for just writing me out of it. He will always bring me back. I don't have to do that work. I don't have to find those answers. I just have to find Him and know Him! And He will lead me ever on!
I will leave you with the song or poem recited by Bilbo Baggins after his adventures in "The Hobbit" by JRR Tolkein.
- Roads go ever ever on,
- Over rock and under tree,
- By caves where never sun has shone,
- By streams that never find the sea;
- Over snow by winter sown,
- And through the merry flowers of June,
- Over grass and over stone,
- And under mountains of the moon.
- Roads go ever ever on
- Under cloud and under star,
- Yet feet that wandering have gone
- Turn at last to home afar.
- Eyes that fire and sword have seen
- And horror in the halls of stone
- Look at last on meadows green
- And trees and hills they long have known.
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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As Spring is creeping in around the corner (yes...I know it's snowing today!) - it is time to think about my garden.
Something in me wants to cut back this year...thinking maybe it's not worth the effort. The more I think about it - that process has become a way of life for me over the past few years.
I get something going, and work hard at it. Then, I see some positive results. Then, I grow a bit tired, and the results are not as positive - but still "better than it used to be." So, I trudge on, sort of resigned to a lower standard of living. It's true in my gardening. And it's true in my life.
The Enemy is very crafty. Lies that sound like truth are often the most effective.
It's easy to scale back the garden and not plant as much this year. But in May, when I have no snap peas for my stir fry, will I regret it? Will my July 4th hamburger miss a fresh home-grown tomato? The answer of course, is YES! Certainly I will miss these things.
In my life, the story is the same. In the past, I have planted bits and pieces of me into other people - by encouraging them and loving them. Over time, I've seen God produce good fruit as a result. But along the way, I somehow grew weary. And then, there was resignation. "It's not worth the effort." "I can't make a real difference anyway, right?"
Finally, I just packed it in and moved to the sidelines. Content to just ride along inside my little coccoon.
Man, how selfish can I be? And how foolish to be so easily deceived?
Scripture is so clear on this. I cannot deny it.
Galatians 6:8-10 (New International Version)
8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that naturewill reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
So I'm going to plant my garden this year. I'm going to toil and labor. I'll raise tomatoes, peas, peppers, and squash. Maybe even a few onions and some lettuce. And in planting, I trust the harvest will be strong and plentiful.
Furthermore, I'm going to labor and toil this year in the garden of my own heart. To turn over the old dried out soil, so that HE can give it new life. To dig and root around to find the places that have suffered from neglect. I'm going to reach out and invest in others, and continue that quest to rescue the hearts and minds of people with whom I cross paths. That was Jesus' purpose...and the same one He's called me to follow.
We've got another week until spring officially comes, but I think I'll take a look at my garden this afternoon. It's wet and cold, but I need a quick reminder that I should always find myself about the business of growing things.
What are you going to grow this year?
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Five Best Things from the Past Week:
- We're finally over the terrible sickness in our house - everyone feels better!
- Laura and I escaped on Friday night...Dinner at the Palm, a show at TPAC, and a luxury suite at the Hilton. Happy Belated Birthday baby!
- The Predators continue to stalk an NHL playoff birth. I haven't given up yet. Nice OT win on Saturday!
- I started a 24-week running program. It felt good to run a little...like I accomplished something!
- A relaxing Sunday afternoon!
Five Worst Things from the Past Week:
- Being out of town and working with someone else (I didn't get to control my own schedule and activities...ugh).
- William had lice. We've had to treat him 2 times. Not very pleasant.
- Having to work in the evenings...at least I got to watch LOST.
- I started a 24-week running program. Oh, how my legs ache!
- The harsh reality of cold weather settling back in after a nice early Feburary warm-up.
Word of the Week:
gauche - (adj) "lacking tact or social grace"
Bible Passage of the Week:
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
From the Apostle Paul...what a great encouragement. At once, it encourages responsibility, capitalism, and living an honorable life as a testimony. Too many Christians are taught, or end up believing, that a quiet and "normal" life is somehow inadequate. I can't tell you how many believers I meet who are frustrated in their search for some kind of significance or noticeable impact on the world for the cause of Christ.
I'm not holding that this verse gives us a pass from making an impact on the world around us. What this passage is saying is that us living a good, solid life CAN make an impact. This gives me a great deal of peace in knowing that I can walk through my relatively common daily life and not need to be looking around for something more or better all the time!
What I'm Reading Today:
- Right Now - "A Prayer for Owen Meany" - John Irving
- Just Finished - "Pocket Water" - William G. Tapply
- Next in Line - "Robinson Crusoe" - Daniel Defoe
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Last week was long and tiresome...but good in a number of ways.
Five Best Things from the Past Week:
- Laura's good news from the Cardiologist...AND...she took her LMFT test (results to come soon).
- 65 degrees on Sunday afternoon...so I got in nine holes of golf (and three birdies!)
- The Predators taking 2 of 3 in Canada - they're keeping me interested in this season...hanging by a thread!
- Good weekend with my Mom and Mother-in-law who both celebrated birthdays. Saturday was busy...but good!
- Connect group went well on Sunday morning - we had a great class discussion time.
Five Worst Things from the Past Week:
- Looking for a lake house for a family reunion in Hot Springs, AR...what a hassle!
- My work schedule...yuck!
- No snow...just a slushy mess from the "wintry mix" we seem to always get.
- Getting schooled in Wii bowling by my 5 year old. Ugh.
- The $900 Billion stimulus package. Only 13% of the money will possibly lead to job creation and economic growth according to the congressional budget office. Surely we can spend our money more wisely than this!
Quote of the Week:
Michael Scott - "The Office"
"Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It is like this tangible thing that you can point to and say, 'Hey man, I love you this many dollars-worth'."
Bible Passage of the Week:
John 10:1-10
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
What I'm Reading Today:
- Right Now - "Pocket Water" - William G. Tapply
- Just Finished - "The Appeal" - John Grisham
- Next in Line - "Robinson Crusoe" - Daniel Defoe
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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It's a cold Monday morning in Music City (notice the alliteration!).
Off we go into the wide world of wonderings and wanderings (more alliteration!).
Five Best Things from the Past Week:
- We got great news from Laura's heart doctor - no serious concerns!
- The season premier of LOST...whoa!
- Finishing the remodeling of Laura's new home office.
- The weather broke - and I got in 18 holes of golf!
- Continued Bible study in the book of James (great job Terry!)
Five Worst Things from the Past Week:
- The lack of quality sports programming on TV...ugh!
- Moving furniture around (at 1AM!).
- Continued Bible study in the book of James (This book smacks me right in the teeth...I love it...but I don't LIKE it. See the C.S. Lewis quote below about his dislike of a certain portion of Scripture...then you will get my drift here!)
- The 100-0 drubbing that Covenant School in Dallas put on Dallas Academy. The aftermath got the Covenant coach fired. My best friend from High School actually teaches English & Theology at the Covenant School (he's not associated with the team in any way). It's a really great school...gotta hate the bad publicity.
- The Predators...demonstrating how poorly a professional team can play hockey!
Quote of the Week:
Someone once cricitized C. S. Lewis for “not caring for the Sermon on the Mount.” This was his reply:
“As to ‘caring for’ the Sermon on the Mount, if ‘caring for’ here means ‘liking’ or enjoying, I suppose no one ‘cares for’ it. Who can like being knocked flat on his face by a sledge hammer? I can hardly imagine a more deadly spiritual condition than that of a man who can read that passage with tranquil pleasure.”
Bible Passage of the Week:
James 1:26-27
"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
After all of my striving and "religious" efforts...talk about being knocked flat on my face by a sledge hammer!
What I'm Reading Today:
- Right Now - "The Appeal" - John Grisham
- Just Finished - "Extreme Measures" - Vince Flynn
- Next in Line - ...not sure...maybe a classic...we'll see!
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Hello Readers! It's been a while, but I am going to attempt to be more regular in my blogs this year...and perhaps a bit lighter some of the time. My goal is to blog at least twice per week - with a regular Monday blog to talk about the past week. So here goes...
Five Best Things from the Past Week:
1. Will turned 3 on Sunday (and he now LOVES his new cowboy boots).
2. We had a great visit with our friends on Saturday night at Will's party - including a Wii Smackdown.
3. Our first Sunday back at the LHBC H'ville campus. Lance Brown's class is still as crazy as ever!!!
4. Steve Sullivan back in a Predators uniform after 2 years of back problems.
5. Our conversion to "Mac" from PC.
Five Worst Things from the Past Week:
1. The Titans...ugh!
2. The weather - no golf for Aaron!
3. The painful transferring of contact info from PC to Mac.
4. A good friend of mine from High School lost her baby this week - please pray for the Brodt family in Texas.
5. Still 10 days until the season premier of "LOST."
Quote of the Week:
"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
- Sir Winston Churchill (merged from previous quotes by George Orwell & Rudyard Kipling).
Bible Passage of the Week:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." - Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)
This passage has two great truths:
- God loves everyone equally
- God makes it easy for everyone to find Him (we don't have to jump through a lot of religious hoops!)
Word of the Week:
Simulacrum - (noun) an image or representation of something; an insubstantial form or semblance (i.e. - just a trace). It comes from the Latin word "simulare."
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Hitting a milestone in my life recently (33rd birthday) was a wake-up call for me. I'm 1/3 of the way to 100. It's alarming how I have balanced between the enormous blessings in my life and the way that I allow my life to often spin out of control.
I'm sort of..."blessed, but depressed"...does that make any sense?
One part of my life seems headed in the right direction. Other parts are in heavy retreat mode. Ever been there?
One of the most important passages in the New Testament is Hebrews 11. Not only does is draw the common thread between the Old and New Testaments - but it speaks to the issue of "faith." That is the central issue for all who call themselves Christians.
One of the key elements...reall the foundation...of Faith...is to trust that God has our best interests at heart. So, when we put our faith in what He says and and what He directs us to do...then we are aligning our hearts with His!
Not only is this important. Not only is it critical. IT IS THE VERY FOUNDATION FOR LIFE IN CHRIST!!!
Look at Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God." (Emphasis added).
It doesn't say that "God would prefer..." or "God would like it better if..."
IMPOSSIBLE!
Going back to Romans...look at Chapter 14. This gets into what we should eat or drink & how we should make even our most basic choices out of faith.
The end of Romans 14:23 says, "and everything that does not come from faith is SIN." (Emphasis added).
Lack of faith is actually a sin. Not just something we should work on. But something that we need to repent of.
So that's where I find myself. Needing to repent of my lack of faith. My mind sees the blessings I have, but my heart only sees the obstacles. That's a lack of faith. I strive and scheme and find ways to provide satisfaction for myself. Maybe it's because I don't always have enough faith to believe God has my best interest at heart.
It's sad, really.
And it's sinful. And it doesn't please Him.
Since pleasing Him is what I was created to do...then maybe that's why the road ahead often seems confusing. I'm off target because I've abandoned my primary purpose. Yikes!!!
Oh me of little faith! Lord, Help my unbelief!
I would encourage you today to inspect your hearts & look honestly at your motives. You can do or say all of the right things - but without the right heart (a heart full of faith in Him) - it's impossible to please God. But you don't have to do it alone. He will provide the faith you need...you just have to ackowledge your lack of it. I spoke of Hebrews 11 earlier. But read on to Hebrews 12...verse 2 says God is the "author and finisher of our faith." It's just like Him to require something of us...that He is willing to provide for us.
I can already sense the fog lifting over my own life. Not because of anything I've done. But because I've given it over to Him. He started the work of building a faithful heart. I trust He will complete it!
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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Some of you may know that I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to business and management theory and the study of organizational design, strategy, and various other business topics. In fact, I'm even considering the pursuit of a PhD in Business at some point the near future.
One hot topic out there in the academic world is that of "Social Network" theory. The theory basically states that organizations are made up of a series of "social networks" in which various employees are linked to each other by some form or fashion. They call the relationships "dyadic" which just means they are linked in some way. For example,
- Employee A is the boss of employee B.
- Employee B went to college with Empoyee C.
- Employee C is dating the son of Employee D.
- Employee D goes to church with Employee A.
Many conclusions about organizational design, productivity, competition, advancement, etc. can be derived from the way these various social networks interact. It's not an exact science to be sure, but there are some trends and impacts that can be measured.
So that's a very brief, and overly-simplistic view of Social Networks.
One of the key contributors to the body of knowledge in this field is Ronald Burt. He has refined components of this theory down to genious mathematical computations (some of which are so complex - I can only understand the "dummies" version). And while these models can never be exact because, after all, we're dealing with people...they can tell us a lot of things about how we interact in our own networks.
Probably the largest contribution that Burt has made to the field is in developing the theory of "structural holes" in networks. The theory holds that in organizations (church, business, school, etc.) that people's networks tend to overlap - but there are often gaps. For example...Employee A may not be as close to Employee C as he needs to be in order to maximize productivity. That is a "structural hole." But Employee B may be able to bridge a good bit of that gap...so this puts a large amount of power in the position of Employee B. Again, the theory is really more complex than this - but this is enough info to put some of you to sleep as it is.
And the point of all this is...
All of us have "structural holes" in our life in one form or another. We do this in social relationships all the time. Maybe we want to be friends with a more popular person - so we manipulate our contacts with someone else to pull us closer to the popular crowd. Or perhaps we find ourselves positioned to benefit from our placement in one of those structural holes and use our position or knowledge to gain an advantage for ourselves at some cost to someone else.
I doubt many of us walk though life constantly analyzing the ways in which we manipulate our social networks. And who would? That would be a boring existence!
But I do think, like many other aspects of our life, we ought to periodically examine our motives and actions in the various relationships we maintain. Are we doing it primarily to benefit ourselves...or others?
Businesses have a right to maximize the return on social networks. They should maximize productivity and profitability - so long as it's responsible and ethical to do so.
But as people - we are called to put others before ourselves. We should use our social networks for the greater good - not for our own benefit. The more I think of this...the more scary it becomes...because I know I think of myself first way too much of the time. How many decisions, phone calls, emails, or even friendly hellos have been offered over the years out of a benefit to myself...and not the other person?
I can't really say. I'm not sure I want to know that answer.
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| Posted by Aaron Horton at | | | |
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