The “Terrible” Diesel
As a young twenty-year-old pastor I was trying hard to “do” and “be” what others wanted. That was a lot of expectation to live up to. Most of the men on my Board were old enough to be my grandfather. I had graduated from Bible College, served as an Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor. I had earned my stripes. I deserved something for me that I wanted. Living life to please others gave me the right to get a little something that what I wanted; or did it?
Elder and Paul in their “miniature” book, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools, offer a guide to assessing and cultivating critical understanding of concepts, others, one’s self, and principles to live by. They believe that, “Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking.”[1] In essence, we are to embrace rigorous standards and be cognizant of how we seek after clarity, accuracy, depth, and ultimately significance of a matter.
I was driving a pretty decent car but had always wanted to own and drive a Mercedes Benz. On a young pastor’s salary that narrowed and limited the possibilities of my dream becoming a reality. In retrospect, was my egocentric world trying to get a sociocentric response of acceptance from the people I was overseeing? Could it be that a young man driving an old Mercedes would validate me as someone worthy to be listened to?
Egocentric thought processes have some issues. Elder and Paul convicted me with the thought that, “Egocentric thinking results from the unfortunate fact that humans do not naturally consider the right and needs of others.”[2] Critical thinking is the antithesis of egocentric thinking. Critical thinking is methodically and systematically asking the right questions to achieve the correct outcomes.
I found an advertisement in the “Used Car” section of the local paper for a used Mercedes Benz. Being a novice to the infamous German carmaker, I was ignorant of the model number and letters that were addressed in the ad. Even the mere thought of engaging in a foreign car, none the less a Mercedes Benz, was unheard of in my world. The ad clearly stated it was older and it excellent mechanical condition. This could be the answer of Heaven coming to Earth for me.
I placed a call to the phone number listed in the ad. A gentleman with broken English answered the phone. I inquired about the car with an open heart, but in my mind saying “yes” before I ever test drove or saw the vehicle. He informed me that he was a medical doctor. That was the “crème de la crème” that was needed. A medical doctor is considered a wise man and if I were to drive a wise man car…well? The rest was history.
Over the phone I wanted to ask the right questions. The challenge is evident when you are inquiring about something that you know nothing about; not critical thinking. The best course of action was to ask a neutral question. “What do you think about the car?”, I inquired. In broken English the reply came back, “It is a ‘ter-de-bel’ diesel.” “So you have not had good luck with the car then.”, I quickly shot back. He again repeated, “No, I said it is a ‘ter-de-bel’ diesel!”
Elder and Paul describe the layers of accuracy, precision, and relevance. The improper delivery of these needed items will be a hindrance to developing proper reasoning. Without proper reasoning we are prone to making assumptions. Assumptions are tainted by our own opinion and narrow thinking.
I determined that I was wasting my time to even get his address. After several minutes on the phone he gave me his address and we set up a time to see the sacred, allusive “ter-de-bel” diesel. Why would I even consider purchasing a vehicle that a medical doctor is calling “terrible”. I must be crazy or quite egocentric.
When I arrived at the house, all seemed well. The Mercedes Benz glowed like a scene from “Touched by an Angel”, but it was terrible. As I approached the vehicle, the wonderful doctor took me around the vehicle and ultimately to the rear end of the car where the chrome letters 300TD were on the right side of the deck lid. The doctor reinforced again what he had said to me on the phone, “It is a 300 ‘ter-de-bel’diesel.”
My naiveté, foolishness, lack of clarity, and pride had gotten the best of me. I was looking at a Mercedes Benz 300 Turbo Diesel. A great car with many more miles to go on it. Well taken care of mechanically and superficially.
My reasoning was based on inaccurate data, information, and evidence. Critical thinking was not present at any time of the process from the newspaper ad to the fine doctor and his 300 “ter-de-bel” diesel. I had entered the scene with concepts and theories that were incorrect.
Did I buy the car? No. I was an uninformed purchaser afraid of the turbo and did not know enough about diesel cars to engage. Moral? Use critical thinking and spare yourself embarrassment and living to the applause of someone other than the “audience of one” who put you on the Earth.
[1] Paul, Richard and Elder, Linda. 2014. The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Foundation for Critical Thinking Press. Kindle. Location 38 or 298.
[2] Ibid. location 248 or 298.
8 responses to “The “Terrible” Diesel”
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I purchased a Mercedes Benz for my wife but I took it back the next day. It cost me to be worried about other people’s opinions. In retrospect I wouldn’t do that now but being younger and in the ministry there is a stigma with certain things. So I believe my thinking has improved and some things are not up for a question.
My personal thinking and question asking has improved over the years and my perspective has changed. I can’t please everyone but I do value my wife’s opinion so much more than the people that just quickly make a comment and then move on.
So now she drives a very nice Lexus SUV and she supports my habit of being in the ministry with her income from being an incredible nurse!! She deserves it and we have learned together on this journey what is important. I feel like this season of life is the same. I have learned a lot over just the past weeks.
One thing I have had reconfirmed is that you are a masterful story teller. Great job
Kevin
You cracked me up with “she supports my habit of being in the ministry”. Life and time are great “teachers” aren’t they?
Phil
Great point, Phil!
I remember starting my nonprofit and meeting with nearby pastors. They asked me one question: “What is your platform?” I turned to them and told them about my heart and passion for this generation and assured them that my “platform” was Jesus Christ. As a female and a young adult, many didn’t know what to do with that answer. They understood agendas. They understood social justice movements. However, they thought I was insane for risking it all to lead a generation to Jesus Christ. It would have been easy to simply submit to their designs and attain leadership under the wrong “platform”. I love your statement regarding pursuit of thought. You stated, “…we are to embrace rigorous standards and be cognizant of how we seek after clarity, accuracy, depth, and ultimately significance of a matter.” Are we seeking after those ideals, or simply settling for monotonous standards of comfort? It’s uncomfortable to question the status quote. Elder and Paul established that “Intellectual perseverance is the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over a period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight” (Paul, 191). Critical thinking requires effort, time, evaluation and weighing various options to find a logical conclusion.
Colleen:
You mentioned it requires a lot…..so true. That is what separates the leader from the rest of the pack. It is the individual who is willing to take the time to do the assessment and make the critical decisions.
Phil
Phil, thank you for sharing about your experience. Some of the things you mentioned are common experiences to many of us in ministry. It is liberating when we realize that we do not have to try to be “somebody” because we already are, and that the only audience that we need to live for is the one who saved us. Thank you for a good insight in your post.
Pablo:
Thank you. Part of living a life of consistent critical thinking is the willingness to do so. When it becomes a chore or compulsion I believe you lose the heart of why you do what you are doing…..ministry, business, family, etc.
Phil
Phil,
In your profile picture, are you sitting in a Mercedes?
It fascinating that having good critical thinking skills includes that ability to know the right questions to ask. Also, if you’d had the time, you could have used the research skills in Turabian to learn about terrible diesels.
Marc:
No, that is not me. Good point on the Turabian skills on diesel. Remember I was in my twenties……. Turabian would have been some place in the Mid-East to me at that time.
Phil