what would you do to survive the question that I asked myself a lot when
question that I asked myself a lot when
question that I asked myself a lot when I was a child you see like millions of
I was a child you see like millions of
I was a child you see like millions of other people in this country growing up
other people in this country growing up
other people in this country growing up I lived below the poverty line my
I lived below the poverty line my
I lived below the poverty line my parents were really hard workers they
parents were really hard workers they
parents were really hard workers they would work any job any place that would
would work any job any place that would
would work any job any place that would require them to that would help keep a
require them to that would help keep a
require them to that would help keep a roof over our heads and put food on the
roof over our heads and put food on the
roof over our heads and put food on the table but the problem with poverty is
table but the problem with poverty is
table but the problem with poverty is that a lot of times it’s just not enough
that a lot of times it’s just not enough
that a lot of times it’s just not enough I think that’s why I was attracted to
I think that’s why I was attracted to
I think that’s why I was attracted to church in the first place
church in the first place
church in the first place you see Church when I was a kid it was
you see Church when I was a kid it was
you see Church when I was a kid it was our salvation now I don’t mean the
our salvation now I don’t mean the
our salvation now I don’t mean the spiritual or a metaphorical sense it
spiritual or a metaphorical sense it
spiritual or a metaphorical sense it really literally was the church provided
really literally was the church provided
really literally was the church provided food when we needed it it gave us money
food when we needed it it gave us money
food when we needed it it gave us money to pay our bills to keep the lights on
to pay our bills to keep the lights on
to pay our bills to keep the lights on it created a sense of community that
it created a sense of community that
it created a sense of community that helps me feel like I had a place to grow
helps me feel like I had a place to grow
helps me feel like I had a place to grow up I think that’s that’s why I decided
up I think that’s that’s why I decided
up I think that’s that’s why I decided to commit my life to working in churches
to commit my life to working in churches
to commit my life to working in churches I realized that a lot of my colleagues
I realized that a lot of my colleagues
I realized that a lot of my colleagues they go into church work because they’re
they go into church work because they’re
they go into church work because they’re attached to a specific denomination or
attached to a specific denomination or
attached to a specific denomination or theology or idea that wasn’t the case
theology or idea that wasn’t the case
theology or idea that wasn’t the case for me so I had the freedom to jump from
for me so I had the freedom to jump from
for me so I had the freedom to jump from one job to the other from one church to
one job to the other from one church to
one job to the other from one church to another and yes for a little while I was
another and yes for a little while I was
another and yes for a little while I was confused but I started to see in each
confused but I started to see in each
confused but I started to see in each and every one of these churches they
and every one of these churches they
and every one of these churches they would come to me they would say you know
would come to me they would say you know
would come to me they would say you know we really want to be relevant we want to
we really want to be relevant we want to
we really want to be relevant we want to be engaging we want to be impactful in
be engaging we want to be impactful in
be engaging we want to be impactful in our community and so I would lay out a
our community and so I would lay out a
our community and so I would lay out a series of ideas and plans that they
series of ideas and plans that they
series of ideas and plans that they could use and every single one of these
could use and every single one of these
could use and every single one of these churches they would take a couple of
churches they would take a couple of
churches they would take a couple of those ideas and then they’d stop
those ideas and then they’d stop
those ideas and then they’d stop something about their system prevented
something about their system prevented
something about their system prevented them from from moving forward to create
them from from moving forward to create
them from from moving forward to create actual change I was really frustrated I
actual change I was really frustrated I
actual change I was really frustrated I didn’t know what that was and so like
didn’t know what that was and so like
didn’t know what that was and so like anybody else when you get frustrated I
anybody else when you get frustrated I
anybody else when you get frustrated I call the colleague and asked them if
call the colleague and asked them if
call the colleague and asked them if they would if they would want to go to
they would if they would want to go to
they would if they would want to go to lunch with me and I sat there and I was
lunch with me and I sat there and I was
lunch with me and I sat there and I was explaining everything to her and and she
explaining everything to her and and she
explaining everything to her and and she said well do you know
said well do you know
said well do you know she need to do and that was a thought
she need to do and that was a thought
she need to do and that was a thought that never crossed my mind
that never crossed my mind
that never crossed my mind you see I I I actually just wanted to
you see I I I actually just wanted to
you see I I I actually just wanted to sit and complain I didn’t actually want
sit and complain I didn’t actually want
sit and complain I didn’t actually want to have to do anything to fix the
to have to do anything to fix the
to have to do anything to fix the problem she said the problem is that you
problem she said the problem is that you
problem she said the problem is that you you haven’t considered the Platypus I
you haven’t considered the Platypus I
you haven’t considered the Platypus I said okay what does that mean
said okay what does that mean
said okay what does that mean she said well back in the 80s and 90s
she said well back in the 80s and 90s
she said well back in the 80s and 90s there was a common conception among
there was a common conception among
there was a common conception among neurobiologists in psychologists that
neurobiologists in psychologists that
neurobiologists in psychologists that that the human brain was the most
that the human brain was the most
that the human brain was the most evolved brain and the reason that they
evolved brain and the reason that they
evolved brain and the reason that they thought this was because there was a
thought this was because there was a
thought this was because there was a great groove between the left and the
great groove between the left and the
great groove between the left and the right hemisphere and it was believed
right hemisphere and it was believed
right hemisphere and it was believed that that groove was greater than any
that that groove was greater than any
that that groove was greater than any other animal or mammal well in the 90s
other animal or mammal well in the 90s
other animal or mammal well in the 90s new article came out that said that that
new article came out that said that that
new article came out that said that that was not true that a number of other
was not true that a number of other
was not true that a number of other mammals including the platypus had a
mammals including the platypus had a
mammals including the platypus had a greater difference between the left
greater difference between the left
greater difference between the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere in
hemisphere and the right hemisphere in
hemisphere and the right hemisphere in fact the platypus is able to shut down
fact the platypus is able to shut down
fact the platypus is able to shut down one side of its brain and still use
one side of its brain and still use
one side of its brain and still use another it can be asleep and awake I
another it can be asleep and awake I
another it can be asleep and awake I said okay well that’s interesting but
said okay well that’s interesting but
said okay well that’s interesting but what does that mean she said the thing
what does that mean she said the thing
what does that mean she said the thing that’s interesting about that more than
that’s interesting about that more than
that’s interesting about that more than anything else is that the people who
anything else is that the people who
anything else is that the people who were researching this had to challenge a
were researching this had to challenge a
were researching this had to challenge a fundamental pillar of their field I
fundamental pillar of their field I
fundamental pillar of their field I thought about that how many of us are
thought about that how many of us are
thought about that how many of us are willing to make those challenges how
willing to make those challenges how
willing to make those challenges how many of us are willing to challenge what
many of us are willing to challenge what
many of us are willing to challenge what it is that we believe and so for me it
it is that we believe and so for me it
it is that we believe and so for me it was beginning to study evolution as I
was beginning to study evolution as I
was beginning to study evolution as I read through and study a number of
read through and study a number of
read through and study a number of evolutionary books I I came upon one
evolutionary books I I came upon one
evolutionary books I I came upon one person
person
person Pierre take heart de sardine a Jesuit
Pierre take heart de sardine a Jesuit
Pierre take heart de sardine a Jesuit philosopher and priest who came from
philosopher and priest who came from
philosopher and priest who came from France into America in the early 1900’s
France into America in the early 1900’s
France into America in the early 1900’s he was a PhD in theology but also a PhD
he was a PhD in theology but also a PhD
he was a PhD in theology but also a PhD in anthropology
in anthropology
in anthropology he loved religion and science and so
he loved religion and science and so
he loved religion and science and so when Darwin’s origin of the species came
when Darwin’s origin of the species came
when Darwin’s origin of the species came out he said it was the greatest book of
out he said it was the greatest book of
out he said it was the greatest book of his generation
his generation
his generation he took the principles that Darwin said
he took the principles that Darwin said
he took the principles that Darwin said about evolution and survival and the
about evolution and survival and the
about evolution and survival and the process of growing and he said this
process of growing and he said this
process of growing and he said this could be applied not just to animals or
could be applied not just to animals or
could be applied not just to animals or humans but to ideologies for dejardine
humans but to ideologies for dejardine
humans but to ideologies for dejardine it could be applied to religion and for
it could be applied to religion and for
it could be applied to religion and for him God itself would go through a
him God itself would go through a
him God itself would go through a process of survival
process of survival
process of survival even evolution that we exist through a
even evolution that we exist through a
even evolution that we exist through a series of time but that ideologies and
series of time but that ideologies and
series of time but that ideologies and people are either surviving or
people are either surviving or
people are either surviving or challenged to change and evolve it was
challenged to change and evolve it was
challenged to change and evolve it was an interesting concept for me at least
an interesting concept for me at least
an interesting concept for me at least because as I read it I started to wonder
because as I read it I started to wonder
because as I read it I started to wonder how the Catholic Church responded well
how the Catholic Church responded well
how the Catholic Church responded well the church responded as well as they
the church responded as well as they
the church responded as well as they could with anybody that’s challenging
could with anybody that’s challenging
could with anybody that’s challenging the major systems they have they told
the major systems they have they told
the major systems they have they told them to stop writing they refused to
them to stop writing they refused to
them to stop writing they refused to publish any of his books and they told
publish any of his books and they told
publish any of his books and they told him to stop teaching what’s interesting
him to stop teaching what’s interesting
him to stop teaching what’s interesting though is that over the course of the
though is that over the course of the
though is that over the course of the next 50 to 60 years the church reversed
next 50 to 60 years the church reversed
next 50 to 60 years the church reversed its decisions it came out and said that
its decisions it came out and said that
its decisions it came out and said that actually they are Dean’s ideas of
actually they are Dean’s ideas of
actually they are Dean’s ideas of survival and evolution progressing
survival and evolution progressing
survival and evolution progressing through time have shaped so much of how
through time have shaped so much of how
through time have shaped so much of how we can understand ideology religion
we can understand ideology religion
we can understand ideology religion science and all of humanity I thought it
science and all of humanity I thought it
science and all of humanity I thought it was really interesting because the
was really interesting because the
was really interesting because the initial point that the Catholic Church
initial point that the Catholic Church
initial point that the Catholic Church engaged de chardin they were doing the
engaged de chardin they were doing the
engaged de chardin they were doing the exact same thing that he was critical of
exact same thing that he was critical of
exact same thing that he was critical of they were more concerned with the
they were more concerned with the
they were more concerned with the doctrines and the dogmas of their
doctrines and the dogmas of their
doctrines and the dogmas of their survival that they wouldn’t be
survival that they wouldn’t be
survival that they wouldn’t be challenged and pushed to evolve they
challenged and pushed to evolve they
challenged and pushed to evolve they wouldn’t take that next step until
wouldn’t take that next step until
wouldn’t take that next step until something forced them to and I realized
something forced them to and I realized
something forced them to and I realized that this was true in each and every
that this was true in each and every
that this was true in each and every Church that I worked at they would be
Church that I worked at they would be
Church that I worked at they would be comfortable only going so far unless
comfortable only going so far unless
comfortable only going so far unless something really pushed them to have to
something really pushed them to have to
something really pushed them to have to evolve and the more I started talking
evolve and the more I started talking
evolve and the more I started talking about this with more people the more
about this with more people the more
about this with more people the more many of them started to say to me you
many of them started to say to me you
many of them started to say to me you know what it’s not just the church it’s
know what it’s not just the church it’s
know what it’s not just the church it’s it’s any organization it’s any
it’s any organization it’s any
it’s any organization it’s any institution it’s any business it’s any
institution it’s any business it’s any
institution it’s any business it’s any relationship and as we’ve seen recently
relationship and as we’ve seen recently
relationship and as we’ve seen recently it’s any political party we either stay
it’s any political party we either stay
it’s any political party we either stay in a mindset and a place where we think
in a mindset and a place where we think
in a mindset and a place where we think that survival is key the reality is that
that survival is key the reality is that
that survival is key the reality is that survivals not even that hard all that
survivals not even that hard all that
survivals not even that hard all that you have to do to survive is keep doing
you have to do to survive is keep doing
you have to do to survive is keep doing today what you did yesterday if the
today what you did yesterday if the
today what you did yesterday if the resources are available to you you’ll
resources are available to you you’ll
resources are available to you you’ll keep going but evolution is something
keep going but evolution is something
keep going but evolution is something greater evolution forces us to to move
greater evolution forces us to to move
greater evolution forces us to to move beyond that I noticed
beyond that I noticed
beyond that I noticed at least a couple characteristics of
at least a couple characteristics of
at least a couple characteristics of surviving systems and evolving systems
surviving systems and evolving systems
surviving systems and evolving systems surviving systems love to talk about the
surviving systems love to talk about the
surviving systems love to talk about the past if you’ve ever been an organization
past if you’ve ever been an organization
past if you’ve ever been an organization or a place where somebody introduces
or a place where somebody introduces
or a place where somebody introduces themselves to you and the next thing
themselves to you and the next thing
themselves to you and the next thing they say is how long they’ve been there
they say is how long they’ve been there
they say is how long they’ve been there you know you’re in a surviving system
you know you’re in a surviving system
you know you’re in a surviving system surviving systems love to look at the
surviving systems love to look at the
surviving systems love to look at the things that used to work and believe
things that used to work and believe
things that used to work and believe that they can work again they ignore the
that they can work again they ignore the
that they can work again they ignore the idea that these these ideas and these
idea that these these ideas and these
idea that these these ideas and these sisters situations don’t happen in a
sisters situations don’t happen in a
sisters situations don’t happen in a vacuum they have this notion that
vacuum they have this notion that
vacuum they have this notion that perhaps because this was successful
perhaps because this was successful
perhaps because this was successful yesterday if we do it again today it
yesterday if we do it again today it
yesterday if we do it again today it will yield the same results but it
will yield the same results but it
will yield the same results but it doesn’t
doesn’t
doesn’t finally surviving systems love to purge
finally surviving systems love to purge
finally surviving systems love to purge outside and critical voices and this is
outside and critical voices and this is
outside and critical voices and this is probably the most common thing that we
probably the most common thing that we
probably the most common thing that we see anytime a new individual or somebody
see anytime a new individual or somebody
see anytime a new individual or somebody with innovative thought comes into an
with innovative thought comes into an
with innovative thought comes into an organization or a system a church a
organization or a system a church a
organization or a system a church a business and they have all these great
business and they have all these great
business and they have all these great ideas what happens either within a
ideas what happens either within a
ideas what happens either within a couple weeks or months or even a year
couple weeks or months or even a year
couple weeks or months or even a year they become frustrated and they either
they become frustrated and they either
they become frustrated and they either adapt to the system or they leave but we
adapt to the system or they leave but we
adapt to the system or they leave but we started to see that there are places
started to see that there are places
started to see that there are places there are organizations and systems and
there are organizations and systems and
there are organizations and systems and businesses and yes even political
businesses and yes even political
businesses and yes even political systems and parties that are moving to
systems and parties that are moving to
systems and parties that are moving to an evolve state that are evolving
an evolve state that are evolving
an evolve state that are evolving themselves and the state of evolution
themselves and the state of evolution
themselves and the state of evolution for them means to challenge those past
for them means to challenge those past
for them means to challenge those past assumptions evolving systems are willing
assumptions evolving systems are willing
assumptions evolving systems are willing to challenge even the major pillars of
to challenge even the major pillars of
to challenge even the major pillars of what they have of what their
what they have of what their
what they have of what their organization has always known take a
organization has always known take a
organization has always known take a look at Amazon and borders you have an
look at Amazon and borders you have an
look at Amazon and borders you have an institution organization that said
institution organization that said
institution organization that said people are never going to stop reading
people are never going to stop reading
people are never going to stop reading books on paper and went bankrupt and you
books on paper and went bankrupt and you
books on paper and went bankrupt and you had another organization that said we
had another organization that said we
had another organization that said we have a different way that people can see
have a different way that people can see
have a different way that people can see how they’re going to read in the future
how they’re going to read in the future
how they’re going to read in the future evolving means being willing to
evolving means being willing to
evolving means being willing to challenge what that pillar is in your
challenge what that pillar is in your
challenge what that pillar is in your organization and your relationships in
organization and your relationships in
organization and your relationships in your systems evolving institutions also
your systems evolving institutions also
your systems evolving institutions also have very simple goals the kind that
have very simple goals the kind that
have very simple goals the kind that could fit on a baseball cap that
could fit on a baseball cap that
could fit on a baseball cap that everyone can understand
everyone can understand
everyone can understand and know and see and apply and buy into
and know and see and apply and buy into
and know and see and apply and buy into more than that
more than that
more than that evolving systems are willing to listen
evolving systems are willing to listen
evolving systems are willing to listen to critical voices the critical voices
to critical voices the critical voices
to critical voices the critical voices that are willing to challenge them that
that are willing to challenge them that
that are willing to challenge them that are willing to push against them that
are willing to push against them that
are willing to push against them that are willing to say that the things that
are willing to say that the things that
are willing to say that the things that worked yesterday are not the things that
worked yesterday are not the things that
worked yesterday are not the things that are going to help you work tomorrow so
are going to help you work tomorrow so
are going to help you work tomorrow so what are you gonna do which system do
what are you gonna do which system do
what are you gonna do which system do you belong in which system are you
you belong in which system are you
you belong in which system are you working in will you change and challenge
working in will you change and challenge
working in will you change and challenge will you evolve perhaps the question
will you evolve perhaps the question
will you evolve perhaps the question that I asked at the beginning isn’t the
that I asked at the beginning isn’t the
that I asked at the beginning isn’t the fair one maybe the question shouldn’t be
fair one maybe the question shouldn’t be
fair one maybe the question shouldn’t be what would you do to survive but what
what would you do to survive but what
what would you do to survive but what would you do to evolve because if we
would you do to evolve because if we
would you do to evolve because if we learned one thing this past week when we
learned one thing this past week when we
learned one thing this past week when we woke up on Wednesday morning it is that
woke up on Wednesday morning it is that
woke up on Wednesday morning it is that it doesn’t matter how much you ignore it
it doesn’t matter how much you ignore it
it doesn’t matter how much you ignore it how much you fight against it or how
how much you fight against it or how
how much you fight against it or how much you plan for it evolution is here
much you plan for it evolution is here
much you plan for it evolution is here and it’s all around us
”
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