Wk 4 Reading - Art of Possibility Ch 10-12

The one constant with this book is it's ability to make me agree and disagree with it usually within the same paragraph and the last three chapters were no exception. The chapter on "being the board" was so far out there with what I considered random thoughts it was hard to figure out where it was going. When it finally did make sense I was so appalled at what it was implying that I wanted to call up the Zanders mysef and ask them if they really live their lives this way. For instance, "gracing yourself with responsibility for everything that happens in your life leaves your spirit whole, and leaves you free to choose again" goes against everything I believe in. Grace is a gift from someone else that you don't deserve but is freely given anyways and any notion of being able to "grace yourself" goes against the very meaning. Another example is "give yourself the power to transform your experience of any unwatned condition into one with which you care to live" is just another way of saying that it is all up to you and your power to create the truth and world around you. I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement and what it implies. I believe the Creator has the power and it is up to us to find ways to understand how awesome it is and how He intends to use us for His purpose. In the words of the band MercyMe, "how refreshing to know You don't need us, how amazing to find that You want us".

Then all of a sudden the book switches gears and I find myself getting past my appall-ed-ness and start to nod my head again. The story of the youth orchestra in Brazil is a great example of how using common sense and allowing kids to view things from a different persepective rather than being punished equals better behavior. As good teachers and parents we all know this to be true. The more you discipline the wrongs without praising the rights turns into unhappy kids with no motivation to do anything but that which will not get them in trouble. Kids are smart, they know when they screw up, and one of the best ways for them to learn is not to punish them to an extreme but rather allow them to figure out how to fix it. There is nothing worse than teaching seniors in high school (or now adults) who have had someone else tell them how to fix everything and have no concept of how to do it on their own.

I appreciate this book for what it was and I am glad it was part of the assigned reading for this course. I plan on using some of the ideas and concepts to help better myself but at the same time understand that my true meaning and purpose do not lie within me but in the grace of Someone else.