Every year, as April 15th comes around, I look forward to the following weeks where I will get a check in the mail from Uncle Sam saying, “Thanks for giving us some of your money! Here, you can have some back now.” While I don’t jump with joy as I crunch the numbers with Mr. 1040, I’m not really angry or depressed with the IRS because once a year they send me three of four hundred smackers that, while technically mine, I never possessed.
However, this year, for some unknown reason, Naomi and I get to give the IRS about three hundred clams. It’s a first… hopefully a last. Don Miller said that one thing paying taxes can do for you is help you to not hold on too tightly to that which doesn’t matter in the end. Listen to the meaty part of the interview on the Relevant podcast for some other nuggets from Miller time.
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Monday, March 05, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
rant: Fast Forward and Mute
Tonight I briefly realized that we are a generation with remote control relationships. If someone is doing something around us that we don't want to bother with, we'll place them on mute. Everything is still going on but we are able to silence them to ensure our comfort and mask our desire for apathy. If someone is saying something we don't agree or feel is useless, we'll fast forward to the part where we get to speak and it's almost like they said nothing at all.
I do this often. Instead of listening [and awkwardly so at times] I'll be planning out what I'm going to be saying next. Sure, I'll catch a word here and there but I'm not actually listening I'm more plotting out how I can sell my viewpoint. Why would we want to sit through something that agitates us? Oh, that's right... cause the only way to change is to deal with stuff outside of yourself. We attached ourselves to theology, politics, music, and people that are like us... maybe we need to try to do the opposite more. Perhaps that will both help us to understand a perspective that is not centered on self and solidify concepts that are nothing more in their current state than a shell.
Too little critical thinking and you gain ignorance, too much and your gain arrogance; neither of which are virtues.
I do this often. Instead of listening [and awkwardly so at times] I'll be planning out what I'm going to be saying next. Sure, I'll catch a word here and there but I'm not actually listening I'm more plotting out how I can sell my viewpoint. Why would we want to sit through something that agitates us? Oh, that's right... cause the only way to change is to deal with stuff outside of yourself. We attached ourselves to theology, politics, music, and people that are like us... maybe we need to try to do the opposite more. Perhaps that will both help us to understand a perspective that is not centered on self and solidify concepts that are nothing more in their current state than a shell.
Too little critical thinking and you gain ignorance, too much and your gain arrogance; neither of which are virtues.
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