About perspective

Ed, I really liked your thoughts about the other side of the coin, and I agree completely that it is important to generate some persective on your personal and professional life. The problem is so many times the pace of life gets in the way. Its not an excuse (if it is it is a bad one) but an explanation.

I will give you two examples of this concept that I've personally experienced, specifically around religion and perspective(uh oh!):

1. I went to church with Marc and Jennifer many years ago when I was traveling for work. It was a congregation in which I was not very comfortable being insecure in my faith and being surrounded by a room of very vocal people who were. But the message that day was awesome. He spoke about the Christian bubble and how people of faith often insulate themselves with like-minded people. His message said that people needed to get out of the Christian bubble and surround themselves with people who aren't of the same convictions. I think the moral was one of evangelism but it was a message that stuck with me for different reasons more along the lines of perspective.

2. I've been a long and open critic of the Catholic faith. Not because of their specific beliefs (because I can't really say how they differ from other Christian faiths) but because the routine of a service makes it a very closed religion. We grew up in a church with no shortage of holiday Christians and the thing I think of most about our church is how open it was to whomever, whenever. In a Catholic church, for me, not knowing when to stand, sit, kneel and say all the things that everyone else knows the words to is very disconcerting. To me it isn't a place where I can go to explore my faith or learn about faith.

To broaden this to the idea of perspective, the running and friendly joke with my boss, close friend, and devout Catholic Chris Klitgaard is they live in the Catholic bubble. Their kids go to Catholic school, many friendships are derived from other Catholics (through their children's school friends), many events they attend are Catholic affiliated, and their philanthropic support begins with the church.

Sheila and I by comparison are not in the bubble. Our kids will go to public school, we attend a variety of social and community events that we are exposed to from a variety of people/organizations, and our philanthopy is broad (although inclusive of among other things our church). It is a stark contrast to the single buying site, volume discount concept of the Catholic church where you commit your "time, talent, and treasure".

So let's all make sure we make time to get some perspective. It makes the colorful banter about any topic more educational which is something I'm sure Ed can appreciate.