So I left off yesterday with two options for creating a remedy for disorder. The first option, which was leave things alone, was not an option in my book (no I don't have a book, it's just an expression). So we are stuck with the second option. The one that involves working to accomplish a solution. I know I'm harsh and unsympathetic (get over it!), but this is what needs to happen.
The solution I offered is the one which I believe to be the best option. Working toward order can help relieve unnecessary stresses that are laid on a group because of one (or many) entity's laziness. So this blog is going to try to describe how to integrate order into a situation that needs it (which will be most situations). The integration involves three steps (I could have explained it in two, but that is not recommended by the great expositional experts). These steps are, in order:
1. Realization and Definition of Expectations
2. Methods for Accomplishing These Expectations
3. Implementation
Simple enough, right? Well, it should be. There are innumerable resources for creating order in our day and age. But we need to have a change in our hearts and our attitudes for it to work. We need to want organization. Otherwise, it will be extremely hard to obtain it. If a person or a group is content with their chaos affecting others in negative ways, and likes things disorderly, it's hard to convince that certain object that it does want change.
So, let's discuss the steps.
1. If realizations are not defined, goals will not be met. This is because these goals are virtually, or even realistically, non-existent. It's like using a map to get somewhere, but not knowing where you are supposed to be going. So, it is necessary to define expectations.
It is also helpful to set realistic and specific goals. Rather than making vague statements such as "We'll get this done sometime in the near future," or "We want to establish organization", concrete decisions should be made. Don't be afraid or timid of setting real-time and realistic goals (just because they are realistic doesn't make them easy ;)).
2. The best intentions can rapidly change into the worst if the end is not in mind. You know what I'm talking about. It's happened to you in a conversation before. You start off talking about something, with the intent of getting to a certain point, and an hour later you are talking about something completely different, and you never got to your point. Whether you distracted yourself or someone else was not sharing your goal with you, you failed. This can happen to the best-laid plans, as easily as it does to a conversation. All involved must have a goal in mind, and know how they are going to realize it.
3. This is the most rewarding and easy to write about step. This is when the fruits of all that hard labor (it really was hard work, wasn't it?) pays off. Enjoy it, but don't relapse into disorder. It's easier to relapse than to maintain organization, but I promise that it will be better for everyone in the long run if you keep everything orderly.
So, this is probably the last post that I will make on ideal order. I may be back soon, or I may not, depending on if I get inspired to write about another topic soon.
Bye for now (I used a lot of parentheses today, didn't I?),
Noah
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Part III (I Know I Used To Be Crazy Writing Those Long Titles, But It Is Going To Stop. Now. Really. Seriously)
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Part II (Named It This Because I Really Didn't Want To Type That Super Long Title Again, I Know I'm Lazy)
Today I am going to write about the integration of order. Without further adieu, here it is:
Order needs to be infused into every part of our lives. Whether we're meeting up with friends or attending a formal ceremony, order is necessary. This is because, in the social world that we live in, disorder infringes on the rights and freedoms of others. Yes, you read that right. Your 'sponaneity' or 'playing by ear' affects others around you, sometimes in a way that limits their personal liberties. N.B.: If you're a hermit who lives without any interaction with others, please ignore this blog post. Actually, you may as well ignore this blog entirely :)
A friend of mine recently told me that his first job was at a daycare center (that's actually what inspired me to write this mini-dissertation on organization). He told me that the place was way too chaotic, and thus he hated his job. Though I've never had the experience of working in a daycare (and hope that I never will), I could easily imagine what happens when 40 three- and four-year olds are gathered together in one place. This is the kind of thing that could drive a person crazy.
I've already started using a daycare center as an example, so I may as well continue the analogy. I am now going to examine the children. These children are ignorant (I don't use the term in context of the societally-defined definition, but to mean lacking knowledge) of the effects that their actions create on others. They ignore the freedoms of others in order to accomodate themselves. Their uncontrollable and unorganized actions do reek havoc on others, though, as is evidenced by the consequences of their actions. Put two average three year olds together in a room, and somehow they'll both hurt each other's feelings and end up in fits of tears.
Most of us, however, are not three year olds. We like to imagine that we think and act intelligently, but we still retain at least one of the qualities of the toddlers. We are ignorant (and you can construe this usage of the term to mean whatever you will) of what chaos we create in others' lives when we have chaotic lives ourselves.
I am now going to describe how our exercise of what we sometimes believe to be our freedom can hinder others.
Within any relationship, energy must be constantly put into the relationship in order to keep it working (we're getting back to Newton's theories, finally). If this relationship is left alone, with no work done to it or energy added to it, it will eventually dissolve. Whether the relationship is with one other person, the whole of society, the government, or even a non personal relationship like a group to group dynamic, this rule may apply (we simply must define the closed system in which the 'action' occurs).
If one person (or group, or organization) lets his part of a relational dynamic fall into disorder, he is not doing his part to put energy into maintaining order. By being spontaneous (or lazy, as I call it in certain situations), this person fails to hold up his end of the unwritten agreement which binds all involved to do their part. When this happens, others are required to step in.
The other individual, or individuals, in the group must pick up the slack left by this disorderly entity. If they do not, the relationship will slowly (or possibly even quickly, depending on the number of beings in the group and the importance of the lazy one) decline into chaos. It will follow the classic rules of entropy and disintegrate.
On a quick side note: All energy must come from somewhere, but energy cannot be created or destroyed. So where do we keep getting energy from? That scientific marvel, the sun (or the Son, depending on whether we are contemplating the physical or spiritual realm). Is the sun ever going to run out of energy? That's a good question, hopefully it will be answered one day. Is the Son? Don't bet on it.
So we see that when one person exercises his freedoms too injudiciously, namely by allowing disorder to reign, it adversely affects others he is directly, or even indirectly, related to. 'Is there an answer?', the inquisitive mind may ask. Of course there is. More than one, in fact.
The bad one: The other entities in the group can make up for the lack of energy input from the disorderly one.
The good one: Integrate order into the relationship.
In my opinion, the bad choice is out of the question. I have nothing more to say about it.
More on the good choice tomorrow.
Order needs to be infused into every part of our lives. Whether we're meeting up with friends or attending a formal ceremony, order is necessary. This is because, in the social world that we live in, disorder infringes on the rights and freedoms of others. Yes, you read that right. Your 'sponaneity' or 'playing by ear' affects others around you, sometimes in a way that limits their personal liberties. N.B.: If you're a hermit who lives without any interaction with others, please ignore this blog post. Actually, you may as well ignore this blog entirely :)
A friend of mine recently told me that his first job was at a daycare center (that's actually what inspired me to write this mini-dissertation on organization). He told me that the place was way too chaotic, and thus he hated his job. Though I've never had the experience of working in a daycare (and hope that I never will), I could easily imagine what happens when 40 three- and four-year olds are gathered together in one place. This is the kind of thing that could drive a person crazy.
I've already started using a daycare center as an example, so I may as well continue the analogy. I am now going to examine the children. These children are ignorant (I don't use the term in context of the societally-defined definition, but to mean lacking knowledge) of the effects that their actions create on others. They ignore the freedoms of others in order to accomodate themselves. Their uncontrollable and unorganized actions do reek havoc on others, though, as is evidenced by the consequences of their actions. Put two average three year olds together in a room, and somehow they'll both hurt each other's feelings and end up in fits of tears.
Most of us, however, are not three year olds. We like to imagine that we think and act intelligently, but we still retain at least one of the qualities of the toddlers. We are ignorant (and you can construe this usage of the term to mean whatever you will) of what chaos we create in others' lives when we have chaotic lives ourselves.
I am now going to describe how our exercise of what we sometimes believe to be our freedom can hinder others.
Within any relationship, energy must be constantly put into the relationship in order to keep it working (we're getting back to Newton's theories, finally). If this relationship is left alone, with no work done to it or energy added to it, it will eventually dissolve. Whether the relationship is with one other person, the whole of society, the government, or even a non personal relationship like a group to group dynamic, this rule may apply (we simply must define the closed system in which the 'action' occurs).
If one person (or group, or organization) lets his part of a relational dynamic fall into disorder, he is not doing his part to put energy into maintaining order. By being spontaneous (or lazy, as I call it in certain situations), this person fails to hold up his end of the unwritten agreement which binds all involved to do their part. When this happens, others are required to step in.
The other individual, or individuals, in the group must pick up the slack left by this disorderly entity. If they do not, the relationship will slowly (or possibly even quickly, depending on the number of beings in the group and the importance of the lazy one) decline into chaos. It will follow the classic rules of entropy and disintegrate.
On a quick side note: All energy must come from somewhere, but energy cannot be created or destroyed. So where do we keep getting energy from? That scientific marvel, the sun (or the Son, depending on whether we are contemplating the physical or spiritual realm). Is the sun ever going to run out of energy? That's a good question, hopefully it will be answered one day. Is the Son? Don't bet on it.
So we see that when one person exercises his freedoms too injudiciously, namely by allowing disorder to reign, it adversely affects others he is directly, or even indirectly, related to. 'Is there an answer?', the inquisitive mind may ask. Of course there is. More than one, in fact.
The bad one: The other entities in the group can make up for the lack of energy input from the disorderly one.
The good one: Integrate order into the relationship.
In my opinion, the bad choice is out of the question. I have nothing more to say about it.
More on the good choice tomorrow.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Importance of Order in Spite of Newton (Or: Organization for God's Glory) Part 1
So, now that I've created a blog just for my poetry, I can get down to serious stuff in this blog.
I've been thinking lately about the necessity of order. The church that I'm going to is trying to establish a constitution, and I've realized how necessary such a document is to any organization. In light of all the political goings-on right now, I've been thinking about order in our country. It's gravely needed, and we lack it.
I remember visiting a church in Las Vegas which not only had no orderly or organized meetings, but denied all pretense of such order. They had somehow gotten the notion that God is a god of complete spontaneity, and that the Holy Spirit's movement would somehow be restricted if order was instilled. Nothing could be further from the Truth.
It's late at night, and I don't have my Bible with me, so I'll try to add my supporting verses later. They'll be here, though. Right now, you just have to trust me.
If order is not created in any type of organization (whether it be a government, church, or anything in between) that organization will dissipate. It's Newton's laws of Entropy in motion. If energy is not expended in an effort to make things work, they won't. Chaos is something to strive for, it just happens. And as humans, we know that no good will come of anything unless time and energy are given to make it good (more specifically, nothing good can come from anything but God, but that's for a different post). Just look at all of us wretches who have been saved only by an act of God's mercy.
God expects us to follow certain patterns of order. Look at the law and rules He gave us. If we let Him, He will guide us toward a more recognisable pattern of meaning. That is what needs to be done with any organization, big or small. Let God show you what to aim for, and persevere until the end.
I'm getting tired now; it's time to go to bed. More on this later.
Noah
I've been thinking lately about the necessity of order. The church that I'm going to is trying to establish a constitution, and I've realized how necessary such a document is to any organization. In light of all the political goings-on right now, I've been thinking about order in our country. It's gravely needed, and we lack it.
I remember visiting a church in Las Vegas which not only had no orderly or organized meetings, but denied all pretense of such order. They had somehow gotten the notion that God is a god of complete spontaneity, and that the Holy Spirit's movement would somehow be restricted if order was instilled. Nothing could be further from the Truth.
It's late at night, and I don't have my Bible with me, so I'll try to add my supporting verses later. They'll be here, though. Right now, you just have to trust me.
If order is not created in any type of organization (whether it be a government, church, or anything in between) that organization will dissipate. It's Newton's laws of Entropy in motion. If energy is not expended in an effort to make things work, they won't. Chaos is something to strive for, it just happens. And as humans, we know that no good will come of anything unless time and energy are given to make it good (more specifically, nothing good can come from anything but God, but that's for a different post). Just look at all of us wretches who have been saved only by an act of God's mercy.
God expects us to follow certain patterns of order. Look at the law and rules He gave us. If we let Him, He will guide us toward a more recognisable pattern of meaning. That is what needs to be done with any organization, big or small. Let God show you what to aim for, and persevere until the end.
I'm getting tired now; it's time to go to bed. More on this later.
Noah
New Blog
I moved my poetry over the my new Systematic Poetry blog. Hopefully this will get back to being a thoughts blog. Hope you enjoy both of them.
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