{"id":32544,"date":"2023-04-24T17:36:14","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T00:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=32544"},"modified":"2023-04-24T17:36:14","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T00:36:14","slug":"instincts-and-a-few-boulders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/instincts-and-a-few-boulders\/","title":{"rendered":"Instincts, and a few Boulders"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week’s book was Factfulness<\/em> written by Hans Rosling. It was an unusual read and I enjoyed it. The author puts forth ten instincts that we as human beings tend to hold as true problems in the world. Each instinct is dramatic and negative. Then he offers factual solutions for these problems. Thus the title of the book, Factfulness<\/em>. In the remaining portion of the blog I will briefly touch on three of the instincts.<\/p>\n

The Negativity Instinct<\/strong><\/p>\n

We hear all the time that the world is getting worse. Crime is getting worse for example. This instinct is our tendency to notice the bad things that are happening around us more than we notice the good things. [1] The author points out that it is easy to be aware of the bad things happening. However, if you look at the statistics for the really bad things over the years, they have improved, not gotten worse. Things such as extreme poverty, life expectancy, slavery, water availability, literacy, right to vote, etc. have all improved. [2] We just don’t hear as much about the good things, sadly.<\/p>\n

When I think about the terrible year we have had at school with the suicides and suicide attempts, it is difficult not to think that things are getting worse. I know in reality they are not, that it just seems that way right now. I believe that our children and youth face things because of the society that we live in today that we never faced when we were younger, and that makes it more challenging for them. They need to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.<\/p>\n

The Fear Instinct<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fear distorts what we see of the world. [3] People are afraid of all the usual things: heights, snakes, spiders, small spaces. [4] If you asked for a longer list, you’d get even more common fears. The thing is, the fears that kept our ancestors alive years ago are no longer so vital for life and death today as they were then. [5] The chances of dying in a natural disaster today are much less than they were in the 1930s for example. [6] Yet some people are still just as terrified of them. We must recognize when fear gets our attention and remember to calculate the risks. [7]<\/p>\n

Isaiah 41:10 instructs us about fear… “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”<\/p>\n

I have been quoting this verse a lot lately when I’ve found myself fearful, and it’s helped.<\/p>\n

The Size Instinct<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is when we tend to get things out of proportion. [11] We do it naturally as humans. [12] We either make something small out to be smaller, or something larger, much larger. This instinct makes me think of my brother, Tom. He is a natural born fisherman. He can’t help but exaggerate when he goes fishing – or any other time for that matter! I love to hear him tell a story because I just know there will be some stretching of facts going on. A great example of this was a time I happened to see him after a long day of working outside on a job. He had gravel bits in his hair. I asked him what had happened. He explained with much dramatic flair that BOULDERS had fallen on his head that day. (hahaha!)<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

These three instincts are but a few of the ten instincts the author examined in his book, Factfulness<\/em>. It is a terrific read, and I recommend it.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

[1] Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling R\u00f6nnlund. 2020. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We\u2019re Wrong about the World – and Why Things Are Better than You Think<\/i>. First Flatiron Books paperback edition. New York: Flatiron Books, 48.<\/p>\n

[2] Ibid, p.60-61.<\/p>\n

[3] Ibid, p.107.<\/p>\n

[4] Ibid, p.105.<\/p>\n

[5] Ibid, p.110.<\/p>\n

[6] Ibid, p.110.<\/p>\n

[7] Ibid, p.123.<\/p>\n

[11] Ibid, p.128.<\/p>\n

[12] Ibid, p.128.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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