Blaming the Victim and Externalized Cost

When an enterprise externalizes cost, real costs are made to be born by others outside the organization. Pollution is an example. It seems to me that there lies a deep kinship in "blaming the victim" and externalized cost. In each case the perpetrating party seeks to shed all accountability and to lodge all cost (or blame) in others.  Let us say that I am a terrible teacher and in rote monotone deliver an interminable lecture which would have been best conveyed by written text.  I make little or no effort to enliven the oral presentation with graphics or even meaningful pauses and inflection. I just "read" from memory page upon page of highly dense data. If a student should complain or fall asleep, I blame them for being lazy or not measuring up intellectually to the high-caliber tone of my delivery.  In other words, I can archly blame the victim who--in a more just world--would have me summarily fired.   We see similar self-inoculation against blame in social groups where shunned individuals are discredited and condemned rather than shouldering any of the responsibility ourselves. 

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The Most Effective Method to Communicate and Persuade

Where are you crying out, but unheeded? What then do you say? Feel? Act? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 1291).

Typically in these situations the initial response is to apply in one form or another condign power – the power to punish in a more or less subtle manner: "In one way or another I will make you listen to me!"  I would recommend throwing this method out the window. We must look to brer rabbit and the application of wit in concert with the patience and grace that arises from the fruit of the Spirit.* This implies a certain latitude of time  – if you at this instant are about to place your hand on a hot stove, an onlooker standing nearby will no doubt intervene reflexively and physically. But we habitually greatly overestimate the number of times that imperatives for such disruptive action is appropriate.  I suggest the most highly effective method for getting one to listen is to open the perception of others by one's own example.  In illustration, don't give me a boss that relentlessly preaches industrious effort, rather give me a boss that regularly  themselves engage in industrious effort. That, in my opinion, is the fastest track to effective communication and persuasion.

* But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

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The Divergent Challenges of Medicine and Religion

With whom do you find it easier to talk more openly: your doctor or your pastor? Why do you think this is? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 192).

The crux of the matter is the person's evaluation of what the pastor or doctor want.  The doctor wants the unvarnished facts; the pastor may or may not want this.  With the doctor we are discussing a physical ailment; with the pastor the malaise may be physical, psychological, social, or spiritual.  With the doctor we have some assurance that if we are completely honest, then so long as the medical arts can apply a cure we are justified in our hope and expectations.  With social, psychological, and spiritual issues, the skepticism is greater--we are not so certain that a cure is coming or can be applied.  Largely, we are one-one-one with the doctor and realize that the professionals he may consult or refer us to will be as objective and skillful as the doctor.  With the pastor we have to worry about the intellectual, emotional, and ideological responses he may have as well as those of his peers and even the broader tenor of the congregation--and the possible institutional adulteration of religiosity (quack religion).  In short, because the nature of physical aliments can be more objectively defined and dealt with, the role of the doctor is ironically more simplified than the subjective minefield within which pastors often find themselves. 

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Misdirected Evil

How did your favorite adventure hero respond to danger? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 1371).

http://www.wrensnest.org/fantastic-mr-fox-a-21st-century-brer-fox/

My favorite hero was brer rabbit who audaciously used wit to foil his adversary brer fox.  His basic strategy was to trick brer fox– less kindly, to manipulate him– for brer rabbit's  own good and salutary purposes.  That is, brer fox was made to do the right at the crucial  moment by following his own worst motives.  Thusly , the moment was redeemed by outwitting evil so that evil did good despite itself.

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The Immutable Drift of Mutability

When God closes one door, he opens another. 

Go as far as you can see. you will then have the vision to go even further. (Vision Ship Art).

These sayings are alike in having the purpose of urging us step out in faith.  They come to mind automatically most often when the past no longer retains the motivational force or  vigor (or even tenability) it once held.  We are not asked to agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed here; but like old man river that keeps on rolling along, we are better off and more in harmony with nature by yielding ascent to the immutable drift of mutability. 

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Visually Speaking

Do the clothes you are wearing say anything about you as a person? How does this make you feel? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 194).

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There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it. (Dale Carnegie).

As [John the Baptist's] disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Mathew 11:7-9 NIV). 

It seems totally unfair that a visual can overrule a resume--that what you wear can be more important than who you are--but that's the case.  I have never cared much for clothes, and that has probably hindered my career more than anything else.  Yet there truly is a certain arrogance in assuming one's personality, character, and virtue are so strong and so sterling that it doesn't matter what visual clues one projects.  We should be fully aware of the importance of visual clues based upon our own human (and animal) nature.  The truth is, I have often worn clothes that testified to the fact that I wanted other people to overlook me...to allow me to go unnoticed and fly below radar.  So in a sense, I have dressed appropriately for my real mission of willful, not to say craven, avoidance. In important ways, visual clues project the tone and manner in which we wish to be evaluated.  To the final retort that some people can't afford appropriate clothing, I can only say that some of the best dressers I know shop at secondhand thrift stores.

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The Younger Generation Greets Us

What "crop" does Jesus want believers to yield? What can you do to increase your productivity? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, pages 1346-7).

My nephew Mike and his wife Mindy have three great children Riley, Avery, and Bellamy (who is the youngest).  Avery and Riley are twins, now age 14.  Yesterday both helped answer the above question during their presentations in church services at Community United Methodist Church of Fruitland Park, FL.  

If you are an adult with an aridly cynical view regarding the rising generations and have any doubts that the human race has a promising and productive future, please watch the video below: