I’ve lived two lives. Most people know me as a leadership guy. I’ve also served as a Presbyterian minister, now retired. I served churches and university ministries as a consultant and as an interim minister, all part time, and ranging from three months to five years. If there is a secret to this role, it is to be a servant. We aren’t there for ourselves, but those that we serve, to take them from one place to the next. It requires the ability to stand on your own. To see your value and offer it for the moment. Richard, we talked about this a couple years ago, which led me to write, The Stranger in Network Theory- https://edbrenegar.substack.com/p/the-stranger-in-network-theory. I think you are exactly right in your assessment. This means that our network of relationships, of friends, become even more important, as the social support that we receive from the institutions where we work goes away.
This us such a timely and relevant link Ed, thank you. There are lessons here for those who find themselves moving on when they were not expecting it, and it is a reassuring message.
I feel there must be many of us now trying to forge our own path and also looking for connection with each other. You're right about manifestos - we all (hopefully) have things we believe in, but paradoxically I don't always find the most creative or practical inspiration from hanging out with those I agree with most (although it's good for other things). To spark ideas needs the collision of different experiences, perspectives and unanswered questions.
Thanks Jake. I think friction matters. Wilfred Bion had an interesting theory of Mind; he posited that we don't have thoughts because we think, but rather think because we have thoughts. The thoughts arrive first, and we have to process them, and that the best thinking happens when there is a sufficient level of friction. "Easy" thoughts create no insight, and beyond a certain point, challenging thoughts turn to fear. Letting challenging thoughts in, wherever they originate, is how we grow.....
I’ve lived two lives. Most people know me as a leadership guy. I’ve also served as a Presbyterian minister, now retired. I served churches and university ministries as a consultant and as an interim minister, all part time, and ranging from three months to five years. If there is a secret to this role, it is to be a servant. We aren’t there for ourselves, but those that we serve, to take them from one place to the next. It requires the ability to stand on your own. To see your value and offer it for the moment. Richard, we talked about this a couple years ago, which led me to write, The Stranger in Network Theory- https://edbrenegar.substack.com/p/the-stranger-in-network-theory. I think you are exactly right in your assessment. This means that our network of relationships, of friends, become even more important, as the social support that we receive from the institutions where we work goes away.
This us such a timely and relevant link Ed, thank you. There are lessons here for those who find themselves moving on when they were not expecting it, and it is a reassuring message.
I feel there must be many of us now trying to forge our own path and also looking for connection with each other. You're right about manifestos - we all (hopefully) have things we believe in, but paradoxically I don't always find the most creative or practical inspiration from hanging out with those I agree with most (although it's good for other things). To spark ideas needs the collision of different experiences, perspectives and unanswered questions.
Thanks Jake. I think friction matters. Wilfred Bion had an interesting theory of Mind; he posited that we don't have thoughts because we think, but rather think because we have thoughts. The thoughts arrive first, and we have to process them, and that the best thinking happens when there is a sufficient level of friction. "Easy" thoughts create no insight, and beyond a certain point, challenging thoughts turn to fear. Letting challenging thoughts in, wherever they originate, is how we grow.....