Not long ago, my wife, Lynne, and I were able to visit my son who is in graduate school in Boston. Jonah is in a program that explores learning design, innovation and technology in education. To me it is fascinating stuff, and I always appreciate hearing what he and his peers are thinking about these days – because that’s not something that I think about most days given my work as a social worker. I am grateful that emerging leaders like Jonah and so many others are taking up these ideas as we move into a rapidly changing world.
One question he said that he and his cohort keep considering is, “What skills do young people need to live in this world and how will they learn them?”
What an interesting and generative question. In fact, I think that this was a question that Jesus often took up in his life and ministry – not just directed at young people but to everyone. He wanted his followers to learn certain skills and to draw upon a different vision of life. He would point things out to them, show them with his actions and help them understand certain principles.
And it’s something our faith communities need to think about as followers of Jesus. Are we a place where people are learning the skills that they need to live in today’s world? It was the great German theologian Karl Barth who said that we, as a community of faith, need to move through the world with the “Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.” Both of these sources of wisdom, along with our own lived experience, might help us respond more fully to what is emerging.
I’d invite us all to just sit with this question for a moment: What skills are needed to live in today’s world and how will we learn them?
How would you answer that question?
What are some skills that you have developed in your life that have been helpful in navigating difficult times?
What spiritual skills or values would you hope an emerging generation has?
What skills did you wish you had that you were never really taught?
And where do we go to learn all this?
For me these are really profound yet also very practical questions and something that we might keep reflecting on
On election day
On our church’s visioning day
As we move through our day
And if you’d like, please write a comment in the blog with any response you have to these questions as well as any “teachers” (authors, speakers, etc.) who are people you turn to in order to learn some of the necessary skills.
7 Comments
Stephen T Tedesco
One of the major skills that is lacking today is critical thinking. People today do not think critically and adhere to mob mentality. Jesus taught his disciples to be critical thinkers through his actions and master story telling. He proved that being a critical thinker did not require higher education or prestige. The lack of critical thinking is very evident in our elections and political climate.
Janet Burrows
Thank you. Wise, riveting because we ALL can contribute and lean into this ministry and spiritual journey. So kind and so close to advent. Thank You!!
Annie O.
Good question. The one and utmost skill is to be in the moment. Live that moment fully and be present to it. Some call it mindfulness, others, presence. Our moments well-lived become our future and our past. That is what I would have liked to learn as a child. My greatest teacher of being in the moment as it arises is Thich Nhat Hanh and secondly Jon Kabat-Zinn. The teachings I heard as a Catholic were always future oriented: Gotta make it to heaven.
Sue Staropoli
As so many aspects of our society are unraveling (politically, socially, economically, environmentally etc) I not only want to increase our skill in being in compassionate mutually supporting community, but also in learning how to live sustainably at the local level. E.g. growing and preserving food, caring for our bodies and minds, repairing things and providing shelter for those who need it, etc. We need to know how to help ourselves and others move through grief and challenging times. This includes the deep inner work of finding peace and joy in the present moment, no matter the outer circumstances.
Sue Staropoli
We also need to develop skills in listening, respectful communication and conflict resolution – to heal the deep divisions and polarization overtaking our society.
Linda D Orlowski
To a person teaching this concept, give every student a sheet of paper with a large box drawn on it. Tell them to make (draw) something in the box — anything that comes to mind. Wait 5 minutes or until it looks like everyone is done. Ask each student to share his/her drawings. When everyone is done, teacher can say that this is to demonstrate that we all think differently and have different ideas for innovation.
Theresa Tensuan
Echoing Sue, I wish that had made time earlier in my life to cultivate skills in conflict resolution and transformation; recently had the opportunity to spend four day-long sessions working with a circle of colleagues and students on foundational skills and practices, and appreciating how much of the practice is essentially working to bring forth that spark of the divine in those caught up in a conflict – how to illuminate the dynamics and tensions that led to the conflict, how to recognize and honor one another’s humanity, how to open up the channels of creativity and insight that can show paths to good resolution. Pablo Cerdera was the facilitator who shared his wisdom and experience in this cycle; have also learned from the grace, generosity, and example of Barb Toews, Duke Fisher, and from the writings of David Karp, Howard Zehr, and Kazu Haga (which was a recommendation from Mike, so we’ve come full circle!)
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