New Doorways
Through out my life, I have had pinnacle moments in my life where I have had to change. Sometimes I have even fought wanting to change, sometimes even dragging my feet when its God pulling me into a new direction. I have found that I can become very comfortable and complacent in systems, routines, ministry, and even in my home life. Often, I have mastered a skill or even calling, at times become a little prideful in my success. However growth often brings change and embracing new concepts and thresholds.
In Threshold Concepts and the book Failure of Nerve by Edwin H. Friedman, we see the focus is being able to embrace learning new concepts, new skills, and eventually a new mindset.[1] In Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[2] We see the need to continue to grow spiritually, but also in our soul (mind, will, emotions) and for the continual process of being transformed.
Meyer said this “There is no settled view about the meanings of Otherness. The instability of the concept is part of its territory. Indeed it would undermine the teaching and learning of Otherness were it to be treated as a truth to be unpacked since mastery includes a grasp of the debate about its explanatory scope and limitations.” Often because of ego and being egocentric we can lose out one of the greatest gifts of being in community, the gift of another’s perspective or experience.
Through Meyers insight on Threshold Concepts and Overcoming Barriers we can glean many take aways:
- Embracing new information or knowledge
- Different perspectives are not wrong or evil
- Research or verify information provided
- Spit out the bones and chew on the meat
- Come into a new threshold and help others
As I have matured and simply gotten older, I have found that often the barrier I need to overcome is myself. Old ways of doing things have put limits on myself and others I lead. I have found that in some areas I have become egocentric and that it has inhibited transformational growth in myself and others. I must come back to disciplines in my life that promote a healthy learning environment for myself, but most of all for others. I have come to adopt, “old ways will not open new doors.”
In Conclusion, both Meyers and Friedman seem to find a common thread on anxiety and the ways of dealing with the kinds of anxiety, self-doubt and frustration that learning can evoke in students.”[3] We can come to understand that anxiety is a like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do but does not get us anywhere. We spend a great amount of time worrying about things that never come to fruition in our life.
In Conclusion, we can learn a great deal from Meyers and Friedman. I was taken by Friedman who emphasized the point that great leaders are present with those they lead. I was extremely convicted by this statement as I am often focused on the next task and pride myself on time management and accomplishments. What an incredible gift for our watches to stop keeping time and be present with those we lead and in our sphere of influence.
[1] Edwin H. Friedman, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix (10th Anniversary, Revised Edition) (Church Publishing, Inc., 2017)
[2]Romans 12:2 NKJV
[3] Meyer, J., & Land, R. (2006). Overcoming Barriers to Student Understanding (0 ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203966273
About the Author
Greg McMullen
Pastor Greg resides in Lake Stevens WA and pastors a small rural church in the Machias area . The Well Church has a large food ministry in which many different cultures come each week to gather food and counsel. The Church has a small school that is bearing good fruit. Pastor Greg has a large family of 10 children and enjoys fishing and hiking.6 responses to “New Doorways”
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Hello Greg,
I guess change is never easy for any of us even when God is at work in these times of change isn’t! One of my favorite sayings of all time is Gandhi’s quote “You must be the change you want to see in the world” a sister challenged me one time that I should only appreciate Christians’ / Biblical quotes, not from a person like Gandhi, talk about “otherness” sometimes it is not easy to leave our comfort zone even when it beneficial to our growth.
Jean De,
My friend, this is a great example. Sometimes in certain christian circles bringing up a quote from outside the christian circle can be very dangerous and often invite negativity. I have really enjoyed this program and the invitation to explorer different perspectives and apply life experiences. This is great quote, thank you for sharing it with me.
Greg, appreciate your heart of humility. I suspect that the mastery of many threshold concepts, especially those relating to our spiritual life and relationship with Christ only come with our comfortability in humility.
Greg,
It really resonated with me when you stated there were times you fought to change. We all do.
The statement you made about the “greatest gift of being in a community is the gift of another’s perspective.” What a compassionate heart and similar to something Dietrich Bonhoeffer might say.
I’m curious, is there a new concept you are currently wrestling with to get unstuck?
Audrey
Greg,
I liked the statement that you shared from Failure of Nerve:
“I was taken by Friedman who emphasized the point that great leaders are present with those they lead.”
There are many distractions that keep us from being present. I am wanting to be better at this myself. I often want to get on to the next task as well. What are some things that you have found that keep you present with those you lead?
By the way,
while in Cape Town you were able to completely unplug because you were not able to get phone messages. I was pretty impressed with this. I know that you have many demands from multiple people. Cape Town was a great opportunity to not be available to beckoning calls from others. I admired how this made you present while in Cape Town and God also had your attention.
Greg,
I appreciate the honesty and humility in your post. You have a shepherd’s heart and it is so obvious in all of your interactions, and even in the way that you pray for others.