Grab and Go, Differently

It’s a beautiful thing, the coffee culture found in cities around Europe. It’s a “grab and go” that is actually about staying. 

Taking a coffee break in Annecy, France

Here’s the scene: a walk-up counter, standing room only in a small café, a fresh pull of espresso in a quaint mug, a neighbor bumping elbows with you as they sip, the smell of coffee and croissants in the air, a man an hour into animated conversation with his friend. 

This provides so much more of a “takeaway” than any carry out I find in America. Because in Europe, they carry in. They bring time, and leave the rush. They bring conversation, and drop the smartphone. They bring quality in a small cup of espresso, and drop the 64oz Big Gulp chugged while on the run. They stand, but because they want to and their purpose is to linger, not because they’re irritated that their order is taking more than three minutes. 

What do you think? Would you be up for a different sort of “grab and go?”

Qualified Versus Capable

I'm intrigued by the the difference between the terms 'qualified' and 'capable'

At work last week I posed an interesting question, just thinking aloud: "If we were to interview from our jobs today, would be meet the required qualifications?"

It is quite a notion, and a question that is not easy to answer. It is easy to disqualify oneself reading through a job description, becoming discouraged by the traits and qualifications required. The laundry lists are extensive, and the skills detailed. I often assume it is a classic catch-22, with experience and theoretical knowledge overly touted in paper but out of synch in the real world.

But back to the root of the question: Qualified vs Capable

Qualified to me is a reference to certifications attained, education completed, years punched in at a job, hard skills in your professional toolkit, and tangible experience that directly relates to your sphere of duties in the workplace.

Capable is an entirely different story. Capabilities are characteristics, experiential resources, a certain depth of capacity, swiftness in learning, tact in fluid circumstances, acquired skills, and confidence in your abilities to perform the tasks at hand and required.

Do you see the subtle, yet apparent, difference? Now to another question: which is preferable?

I suppose that this depends on your perspective, experience, and natural leaning. Generally it boils down to this: In what qualities are you putting the most stock? And at what point are you willing to disqualify or qualify somebody given their pedigree (qualifications) or experience (capabilities)?

This is a fascinating topic, and one which extends far beyond simple job candidacy propositions. I would love you hear your views or experiences with it.

If you were to apply to the current job you are in today, would you get it? Would you make it past the first round of application procedure? What is your view on the 'qualified'/'capable' question?

On Social & Society: The 2012 Town Hall Presidential Debate

"Two alpha males" went at it last night in the second presidential debate of the 2012 election year. It was described as "contentious," "feisty," and "surprising." If you watched it, or even heard about it, then you would have to agree with that description. If you haven't gotten wind of what happened, then you must live under a rock. 

This debate was highly social! It was tweeted ad nauseam, and polls, posts, and perspectives abounded. Here is a quick rundown from the Twitter-sphere:

Tweets during Debate - Over 7.2 million

Most tweets per minute - 109 thousand

Key Hashtags - #binder, #debate, #pension

Mentions - Obama: 52%, Romney 48%

Most tweeted issue - Economy (28%)

The jury is out on who has the edge coming out of the Town Hall debate. Obama was generally declared winner, although anything above and beyond his prior performance would've looked amazing. Both men came out fighting, and the sense of urgency was apparent to all.

It is amazing to see how much times have changed, even from the 2008 election to now. I couldn't watch the debate without checking Twitter to see what others were saying. Tweets, polls, and website flew across the bottom of my tv screen the entire 90 minutes. Reporters and moderators are @________, and not just a name. Everyone has an opinion, which is shared, redistributed, mixed, tweaked, agreed with, slammed, and mainly, generally out there for the world to see. And don't get people started on the political Facebook ads, the tv spots, and the water cooler discussions that whip around us like tornadoes. 

The bias of media has become increasingly apparent to me through the rise of social. Platforms are being abused and clumps of viewpoints are seen as the majority because they are the loudest, fastest typers, or most interested in jumping on the hashtag bandwagon. 

I sit here and wonder what elections are anymore. What is the news anymore. What are we saying and doing anymore. Can we tell?

Just some musings that came to my mind post-debate. Elections obviously bring up a passionate side in many of us. It's interesting to see how that passion shines through and what its effects will be. 

Is the 2012 election not just about choosing a president who will govern the next 4 years, but a picture of where we are heading as a culture?

I Love Fall!

Fall is by far my favorite season of the year. Don't get me wrong, I love beaching it in the summer, wearing my scarves in the winter, and jumping for joy when I can finally go out in shorts in the Spring. But there is something so wonderful about Autumn.

That crispness in the air, the gorgeous colors of the leaves, the clearness of the blue sky. And beyond the natural beauty, there's the awesome Fall foods I can begin shamelessly dipping into, the fire in the fireplace on brisk nights, my favorite teas, and last but not least football games on the weekends. 

Here is a list of everything I love, in no particularly order, and probably not exhaustive:

Candy Corn. You know it! Throw in some of the candy corn pumpkins and I'm even happier.

Butternut Squash Soup. I may freak out that I'm going to cut my finger every time I go to dice the squash, but so far so good, and it's worth it!

Pumpkin...everything. Lattes, pies, oatmeal, muffins; I could go on and on.

NFL Football. Yep, I love football! I spent the summer away in England and got into many a discussion about soccer football versus American football. Clearly, American football is best, but I'm still working on a few of my non-US friends.

Fall Decorations. I need to get going on Pinterest for this. But what is more festive than some Fall foliage on a table, a wreath of gourds, a scarecrow on the front porch, or a wagon of pumpkins and hay?

Pumpkin Patches. Apple cider, kids lugging around big orange pumpkins, throwing on a jacket and scarf, and having tons of fun. 

Digging Out Winter Clothes. The best is not remember exactly what you had, and being excited when it's better than you expected. Almost like going shopping...for free! There is so much you an put into your Fall ensemble, from scarves and boots to jackets and hats. Good stuff.

Outdoor Activities. The summer heat is gone, but the winter awfulness hasn't hit. I went bouldering yesterday and was just in awe as I drove through the park and gazed out at the mountains, trees blazing in different shades of orange, red and yellow, with a fresh breeze wrapping me in the sights as I cruised along.

First Fire in the Fireplace. The crackling of logs, the flicker of light, the warm heat radiating out. Nothing beats a nice fire. I love curling up and reading or watching tv with a fire in the background. And after always growing up with old school log fires, I have to say that although I miss the woodsy smells and popping logs, I am loving the instant gratification as I hit the "on" button of my gas fireplace remote!

Heading Into the Holiday Season. I'm a sucker for special occasions. Seriously, I probably get more excited about birthdays than 7 year olds. And yes, I still make a Christmas list each year. But why not get excited about holidays? I think in today's culture, we neglect to celebrate as we should. What's wrong with getting swept up in festivities and enjoying the occasion?! Not that I agree with the immense (and ridiculous) amount of consumerism that holidays have unfortunately become. But the premise and joy that they embody is very welcome in my book.

That's it. There's my list. I'm sure more will come to mind, and I may add as I go along. But you get the general idea. 

If you've got favorite parts of Fall, add them to the list through the comments!

Now quit reading this, go rake up a pile of leaves, and jump in it!

The smallest minority on earth is the individual

Gee, here I go again with more quotes. But as I've been hearing about politics all year, and part 2 of Atlas Shrugged the past couple of days, you can't blame me for having Ayn Rand on my mind.

Here's what she said:

"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and the smallest minority on earth is the individual)."

This is definitely a statement that makes you think. I certainly had to reread it a couple of times, mulling over the theme and picking out the implications.

But I didn't have to chase it too long. Because there is one solid truth that to me is obvious. There will always be leadership. Period.

No matter what our stance is. No matter what we wish for. No matter what we may desire to believe, there are people in authority. And beyond people, there is a God with ultimate, supreme sovereignty.

To some people, this is a disturbing fact. It is a reality that they believe is the root cause of trouble in our world. Indeed, it sometimes is. There is the sad truth that many leaders abuse their power, cripple the freedom of individuals, and neglect the small voices. But as I dove into this theme a bit, I found the examples of good authority to be more compelling.

In my "Leadership Moments" devotion today, I read about King David. They described his style in this way:

"King David's leadership succeeded through a two-sided coin: his hands AND his heart. He had outward skill and inward integrity."

Psalm 78:72 says, "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them."

Pretty reassuring evidence for leadership, don't you think? And look at Jesus! Over 2.2 billion people in the world are Christians, over a third of the global population. They have all chosen to follow this man, accepting his claim as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Let's look at his approach to power.

In Matthew 20:29-34 we have the story of two blind men asking Jesus to restore their sight. These were obviously marginalized and hopeless individuals. Jesus healed them, and they immediately followed him.

Further along in Matthew, in chapter 22:15-22, we find a surprising exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees. He shocks them by saying that Caesar deserved the tax, as it was his authority which claimed it.

Wow. Here is a man who has heavenly power and authority, pausing to heal two nobodies and then acquiescing to an earthly ruler. That flips Rand's view on its head. It also places the responsibility on our shoulders.

Rand says rights protect minorities from oppression. I would argue that Christ protects minorities from oppression.

As Christians, each and every one of us is called to fight against injustice, to elect officials who are capable and righteous, and to assist the needy. Jesus exemplified all of this during his ministry, and continues to call us to do that today as we follow him.

I find it interesting how much value we place on ourselves. My ideas, my needs, my struggle, my purpose. Looking at the 2012 presidential election, we are all looking out for our interests as we choose our next leader. It is fact that our liberties and lifestyles will be governed by the people we elect into positions of authority over us.

I'm comfortable with this though, knowing that Jesus, who is my authority, taught us to understand the purpose and value of earthly leadership. As long as we step outside of the blinders of our perspective, and look at history, the purpose of leadership, and the values that must be protected, we need not fear.

Votes and leaders do affect individual and minority rights. That has always been the case. But if we carefully and responsibly allow qualified, wise people into power, then we need not worry about this fact. Case in point: King David.

What do you think?

Tokens from Tolkien

As you can see from the title of my blog, I've found some Tolkien quotes that I like. Just the other day, I heard this one:

"Not all who wander are lost."

Isn't that the truth? In today's day and age, with technology, globalization, and fluidity a part of everyday life, feeling lost is pretty common. Wandering goes far beyond moving physical location. It takes form academically, spiritually, emotionally, virtually, and relationally. We flit from Facebook profiles to Flikr albums, to Pinterest boards, to jobs, to tweets, to friendships, to degrees. Well, you get the point!


But even in doing all of that (which I do on a daily basis for my work), we can keep our compass pointing north. Exploring and pushing boundaries is healthy. I've been blessed to be able to travel, experience different educational environments, live in different places, and navigate the wild west of digital media over the past years. It may have been a circuitous journey at times, and I may not have had a map, but I sure grew from the journey and discovered that remaining true to myself and who God made me to be allowed me to continue northward. aka, I wasn't lost. 


Which leads me to another Tolkien quote:

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” 

I have always been a firm believer in dreams. Pursuing what you know to be right, and who you know yourself to be is so critical. After all, God created us in his image, to be fulfilled through the new life that Christ offers us when we believe in him. This goes so much farther than just acknowledging a heavenward path. It seeps into us, allowing us to discover the purpose and vision God has for our lives. 

Yes, realities press in on us from all directions. And yes, they can be discouraging, daunting, and even dire at times. But  if we have a dream in mind, and the confidence in knowing that it is sound and right, then the strength we have to go after it will always be stronger than the momentary trials that stand in our way.

So in a nutshell, I'd like to stake my claim in this fashion: I am a wandering dreamer, but I am not lost and I am not unrealistic. I am just more influenced by the power of Christ and the hope of finding myself in him and his work, which always triumphs.

Thanks for the inspiring words, Tolkien. I think we can all feel them resonate in our lives and look to them as a good reminder when our map is a little unclear or our dreams a little far off.