Thanks for this Lindsay. Sure, would love to read that paper, thanks. Well, common sense has become so uncommon! And ideology seems to trump practicality in crazy ways. I just keep exposing what seems to be obvious but denied, and engaging readers/friends in thoughtful conversations about "what if?" I know there are millions of us who are open minded this way. Hopefully, we can help those who are awakening to something more than the blame game.
Will, Another excellent share. You touch on so many topics that I contemplate. I'm glad you are meeting with the young man you mention. I know, in your wisdom ,you will ask him many questions to discover how he developed the worldview currently influencing his perspective. I taught high school from 2007 to 2012 while raising teenagers of my own. I can tell you that they were bombarded with depressing topics, mostly related to Climate Changes and the destruction of the world they were soon to enter as adults. I kept trying to balance this message, to let them know that it was everyone's problem to solve, but the message, of that era, seemed to be that it was their's to fix. At age 14 - 17, I'm sure I would have been pissed off if this was put on my generation. I'm sure I would have done more drugs as a way to handle the enormity of what the world was facing and what was somehow landing on my young shoulders. I noticed that this generation wasn't doing so well. I wrote my master's thesis on addressing their anxiety / mental health declines - Titled: Integrating Social / Emotional Learning into the Secondary Curriculum. If you are interested I can send it to you. While I believe social / emotion intelligence is the responsibility of parents, I saw too many teenagers not getting the help they needed, at home, to process the world they were stepping out into. My era of teaching was also plagued by cell phones in every young hand and all the negative results, but that is a whole other topic. I want to thank you, also, for sharing your questions regarding gender identity. You ask great questions and propose common sense approaches that the world has completely lost sight of. While this might be a trend or fad, there is real damage being done. I'm grateful you are calling it out. I'd love to hear how your meeting goes with this young man. Perhaps your next posting. Blessings, Lindsay
Thanks Deborah. I champion the urge to freedom, breaking old patterns, etc., but - as usual -we seem to have gone overboard. All restraints are seen as oppression now. Personally, I'm glad there are a few rules we agree to, like driving on the right side of the road. And when it comes to gender and body realities, I simply acknowledge what is and don't accuse God of making a mistake by putting me or anyone else in the wrong body. Life is a gift... confusion is natural, it's part of learning and growing up. I'll continue to do whatever I can to shine the light of reason and compassion (I hope) into the darkness of ignorance, especially when that darkness is seemingly well intentioned. We know where we end up when we pave the road with those good intentions!
I think we're zeroing in on a real key to our survival as a species, engaging Youngers and helping them become our leaders. The architects of the Declaration of Independence were young men! For some reason they are depicted in paintings as old men. I wonder who orchestrated that deception and why? I'll be fascinated to chat with this young man, I expect to learn a lot and I hope some of my life experience, especially what I've learned when I let go, will help his journey.
Two subjects that could each be a separate focus for comment. Since I clearly do not understand the entire "woke" world, I'll stay with the 30 yr. old who faces a junction. He's so fortunate to have a creative master to guide him. While he might be wallowing in indecision, his base instinct to reach out and describe his confusion with life is the exact place to unravel and begin a fresh journey. Let him know that it's rare to have an older mentor at his age, I hope he takes full advantage of what's now been made available.
As a wise man once said on more than one occasion, it is necessary that we face facts. In this case, chromosomes. The being one is functions through factual capacities. Going outside of or denying facts has consequences. Wisdom comes in true identity. Bless you for diving deeper with this young man and all who respond to you.
Thanks for this Lindsay. Sure, would love to read that paper, thanks. Well, common sense has become so uncommon! And ideology seems to trump practicality in crazy ways. I just keep exposing what seems to be obvious but denied, and engaging readers/friends in thoughtful conversations about "what if?" I know there are millions of us who are open minded this way. Hopefully, we can help those who are awakening to something more than the blame game.
Will, Another excellent share. You touch on so many topics that I contemplate. I'm glad you are meeting with the young man you mention. I know, in your wisdom ,you will ask him many questions to discover how he developed the worldview currently influencing his perspective. I taught high school from 2007 to 2012 while raising teenagers of my own. I can tell you that they were bombarded with depressing topics, mostly related to Climate Changes and the destruction of the world they were soon to enter as adults. I kept trying to balance this message, to let them know that it was everyone's problem to solve, but the message, of that era, seemed to be that it was their's to fix. At age 14 - 17, I'm sure I would have been pissed off if this was put on my generation. I'm sure I would have done more drugs as a way to handle the enormity of what the world was facing and what was somehow landing on my young shoulders. I noticed that this generation wasn't doing so well. I wrote my master's thesis on addressing their anxiety / mental health declines - Titled: Integrating Social / Emotional Learning into the Secondary Curriculum. If you are interested I can send it to you. While I believe social / emotion intelligence is the responsibility of parents, I saw too many teenagers not getting the help they needed, at home, to process the world they were stepping out into. My era of teaching was also plagued by cell phones in every young hand and all the negative results, but that is a whole other topic. I want to thank you, also, for sharing your questions regarding gender identity. You ask great questions and propose common sense approaches that the world has completely lost sight of. While this might be a trend or fad, there is real damage being done. I'm grateful you are calling it out. I'd love to hear how your meeting goes with this young man. Perhaps your next posting. Blessings, Lindsay
Right on, great poem Mike.
Thanks Deborah. I champion the urge to freedom, breaking old patterns, etc., but - as usual -we seem to have gone overboard. All restraints are seen as oppression now. Personally, I'm glad there are a few rules we agree to, like driving on the right side of the road. And when it comes to gender and body realities, I simply acknowledge what is and don't accuse God of making a mistake by putting me or anyone else in the wrong body. Life is a gift... confusion is natural, it's part of learning and growing up. I'll continue to do whatever I can to shine the light of reason and compassion (I hope) into the darkness of ignorance, especially when that darkness is seemingly well intentioned. We know where we end up when we pave the road with those good intentions!
I think we're zeroing in on a real key to our survival as a species, engaging Youngers and helping them become our leaders. The architects of the Declaration of Independence were young men! For some reason they are depicted in paintings as old men. I wonder who orchestrated that deception and why? I'll be fascinated to chat with this young man, I expect to learn a lot and I hope some of my life experience, especially what I've learned when I let go, will help his journey.
Two subjects that could each be a separate focus for comment. Since I clearly do not understand the entire "woke" world, I'll stay with the 30 yr. old who faces a junction. He's so fortunate to have a creative master to guide him. While he might be wallowing in indecision, his base instinct to reach out and describe his confusion with life is the exact place to unravel and begin a fresh journey. Let him know that it's rare to have an older mentor at his age, I hope he takes full advantage of what's now been made available.
As a wise man once said on more than one occasion, it is necessary that we face facts. In this case, chromosomes. The being one is functions through factual capacities. Going outside of or denying facts has consequences. Wisdom comes in true identity. Bless you for diving deeper with this young man and all who respond to you.
I think we need a macro-perspective. One that goes beyond anything physical to the ultimate all encompassing truth. A poem I wrote many years ago:
To have an idea, a thought
To know exists an immense universe
A grand machine is life
To know that this world and you
Are but a small part of this machine
A machine we call God
To realize that all of life
Is one, is God, is love
Love is all there is