Two weekends ago, Mosaic hosted an event we call yelo. Here is the tagline from the website:
yelÅ uses the Gallup StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Character Matrix to help individuals uncover their unique strengths and make their irreplaceable contribution to humanity. Join us for this unrivaled experience and discover the life you are created to live!
Our goal is to continue to develop yelo in order to impact and serve the Bay area - no strings attached, no set expectations or obligations for those who come. At this last event, my entire interiors team wanted to come! It was exciting to see how excited and interested they were in really making the most of this information.
So post-yelo we have decided to have one person a week, from the team of seven, share their strengths in their own words and then develop a few goals or tasks. I thought I'd volunteer to go first, as I've been exposed to yelo for a few years now and have had some extra time to think. I was so excited about it I wanted to post it for all my friends and family.
My top-five strengths:
Input:
I am inquisitive. I find so many things interesting – the world is full of variety and diversity and I am energized by keeping my mind fresh and open to knowing more. I am challenged by the unknown.
Intellection:
I am introspective. I am energized by taking time to process and reflect on the things I find interesting. I have a complex internal world – with my own board of directors. I like to pose questions to myself and try out different ideas. I am good at taking a lot of information and breaking it down into the most important or relevant parts.
Restorative:
I am energized by breaking down complexity and finding the core or source of problems/information. I thrive on independence and freedom – and being given the responsibility to find out different ideas/solutions.
Responsibility:
In the process, I tend to develop a psychological bond to the problems and information that I ponder. Because I am drawn to ideas and solutions, I am compelled to share them with those around me though I find the responsibility to carry them out to the maximum amount of detail to be overwhelming. I work best with clear boundaries… knowing what is expected of me.
Arranger:
I am committed to finding the best way or idea or solution possible. I am an example of “effective flexibility”, whether I am changing travel schedules at the last minute because a better fare has popped up or mulling over just the right combination of people and resources to accomplish a new project. Hence I will resist too much rigidity or structure – always keeping it open to change in case a better way is found.
Goals to develop strengths:
1. Organization: I can get lost in a sea of information and need to continue to develop effective systems to help retrieve or make the most of all the information.
2. Expression: I need to continue to find ways to express or share the information and thoughts that I develop.
Measurable Goals/Tasks for the office:
1. Making time to share ideas and information such as through in-house presentations, articles, or reviews.
2. Breaking down sustainability criteria into tangible tools other designers can use.
3. To be developed!
Showing posts with label mosaic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mosaic. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Incomplete thoughts about pigs
The phrase "the pigness of pigs" keeps swirling around in my mind and I find my thoughts returning to it regardless of how irrelevant to the moment it is. I first came across this phrase as I was reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. In this section of the book he was visiting a truly organic small farm in Virginia and working alongside the interns and farmers. The day he used the phrase is the day he witnessed the pigs plowing through manure. Unfortunately I can't remember all the details (like what animals did the manure belong to, chickens or cows?) but I'll try to paint a vague picture so you'll appreciate the phrase as much as I did. I guess that pigs like something in manure and as they plow through it the hooves of their feet compost the pile into incredibly rich soil (which is then put over the fields). Pollan was explaining the complexity of relationships on the farm and how beautifully the entire system works together.
He was amazed as he watched their little tails wiggle as they worked their way through the pile. I guess pigs are relatively intelligent animals and can express happiness and also despair. On this little organic farm, the pigs wiggled their tails in pleasure. In factory farms, their tails are cut off so that as they move through the assembly line, the pig behind them won't be tempted to chew it – as they tend to do when in despair.
I am laughing as I type – here I am talking about manure and pig tails. Yuck! I can't believe the kind of stuff my gnawing curiosity will drive me to read!
The book continues with a discussion on how both the organic and factory farm pigs are, in a sense, exploited. One exploits them as a matter of efficiency and production, the other as a way of "celebrating" what the pigs naturally love to do. The small, organic farm had mastered "the pigness of the pigs."
One possible reason this phrase is soaking in my thoughts is because of its correlation to what I believe Mosaic is attempting to do (as I said, in my mind.) There is a type of church that exploits humans for the sake of safety. The other exploits humans as a tool of empowerment to change the world. Utilizing the "humanness of the humans" in a sense. I think that one type of church is convinced all "humanness" is bad while the other is attempting to empower the parts of "humanness" that reflect the image of God.
In the end, both pigs will be slaughtered and it is the meat that will determine their end value. Some may argue that since both ways achieve the same end – why does it matter what method was used to get them there? It is a valid question, to be sure, and one I don't think I can address in this post. I know I am leaving so much left undiscussed...
I know that as I write about this I am over-simplifying in great ways. The "pigness of the pig" doesn't easily translate into the "humanness of the human", especially if the farm is substituted for the church. However, I think its worth some thought – I know it will be in mind for quite awhile.
He was amazed as he watched their little tails wiggle as they worked their way through the pile. I guess pigs are relatively intelligent animals and can express happiness and also despair. On this little organic farm, the pigs wiggled their tails in pleasure. In factory farms, their tails are cut off so that as they move through the assembly line, the pig behind them won't be tempted to chew it – as they tend to do when in despair.
I am laughing as I type – here I am talking about manure and pig tails. Yuck! I can't believe the kind of stuff my gnawing curiosity will drive me to read!
The book continues with a discussion on how both the organic and factory farm pigs are, in a sense, exploited. One exploits them as a matter of efficiency and production, the other as a way of "celebrating" what the pigs naturally love to do. The small, organic farm had mastered "the pigness of the pigs."
One possible reason this phrase is soaking in my thoughts is because of its correlation to what I believe Mosaic is attempting to do (as I said, in my mind.) There is a type of church that exploits humans for the sake of safety. The other exploits humans as a tool of empowerment to change the world. Utilizing the "humanness of the humans" in a sense. I think that one type of church is convinced all "humanness" is bad while the other is attempting to empower the parts of "humanness" that reflect the image of God.
In the end, both pigs will be slaughtered and it is the meat that will determine their end value. Some may argue that since both ways achieve the same end – why does it matter what method was used to get them there? It is a valid question, to be sure, and one I don't think I can address in this post. I know I am leaving so much left undiscussed...
I know that as I write about this I am over-simplifying in great ways. The "pigness of the pig" doesn't easily translate into the "humanness of the human", especially if the farm is substituted for the church. However, I think its worth some thought – I know it will be in mind for quite awhile.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Women of the church
Here I go again, causing trouble. I promise, it's not intentional. And I am not the least bit angry as I write... and I am definitely not trained in "writing" so please be gracious with me as I engage this conversation...
To start, the topic of women leadership has been on my mind A LOT. It seems to come up in a lot of my conversations and it is always in the back of my mind as I process thru different areas. Shortly before the holidays, I ran across this book, Microtrends, and I had to read it. The reason I mention this book is because it backs up the increasing sense of urgency I've felt around women leadership/involvement. The book immediately starts out by talking about the rising number of single women in the United States - and how they outnumber men 53 to 47. It goes on to talk about women outnumbering men in fields like law, public relations, and journalism. Women outvoted men 54 to 46 percent in the 2004 presidential election. Women outnumber men in college by about 57 to 43 percent. And it doesn't stop there - single women were the second largest group of home-buyers in 2005. It goes on to talk about the large percentage of women that own or manage their own business, how women purchase more cars than men... and on and on. Basically, if we look at the statistics, the United States of America is quickly becoming all about women. Women owned, managed, designed...
I fear that if women leadership/involvement is not made a serious priority - the church will lose relevance with over half of the United States.
I'll conclude sharing one thought - this is one of the most liberating thoughts I've come across so far concerning women and God - and the main reason I've become increasingly concerned that men misunderstand who God is.
In the introduction to the book, The End of All Religion, Bruxy Cavey says "I should also take this opportunity to mention that I use the male pronouns "he" and "him" in reference to God with both regret and conviction. The Bible does not teach that God is male. God is Spirit, within whom maleness and femaleness both find their origin and identity (see Genesis 1:26-27; John 4:24). And here we encounter the limitations of language. English, like the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), does not provide us with a gender-inclusive, singular, personal pronoun. And I don't want to refer to God in impersonal terms. (He is not an it.) Therefore, I use male pronouns because of my conviction that God is personal, not because I think he is male. Further, I wish to align my syntax with the ancient languages."
To start, the topic of women leadership has been on my mind A LOT. It seems to come up in a lot of my conversations and it is always in the back of my mind as I process thru different areas. Shortly before the holidays, I ran across this book, Microtrends, and I had to read it. The reason I mention this book is because it backs up the increasing sense of urgency I've felt around women leadership/involvement. The book immediately starts out by talking about the rising number of single women in the United States - and how they outnumber men 53 to 47. It goes on to talk about women outnumbering men in fields like law, public relations, and journalism. Women outvoted men 54 to 46 percent in the 2004 presidential election. Women outnumber men in college by about 57 to 43 percent. And it doesn't stop there - single women were the second largest group of home-buyers in 2005. It goes on to talk about the large percentage of women that own or manage their own business, how women purchase more cars than men... and on and on. Basically, if we look at the statistics, the United States of America is quickly becoming all about women. Women owned, managed, designed...
I fear that if women leadership/involvement is not made a serious priority - the church will lose relevance with over half of the United States.
I'll conclude sharing one thought - this is one of the most liberating thoughts I've come across so far concerning women and God - and the main reason I've become increasingly concerned that men misunderstand who God is.
In the introduction to the book, The End of All Religion, Bruxy Cavey says "I should also take this opportunity to mention that I use the male pronouns "he" and "him" in reference to God with both regret and conviction. The Bible does not teach that God is male. God is Spirit, within whom maleness and femaleness both find their origin and identity (see Genesis 1:26-27; John 4:24). And here we encounter the limitations of language. English, like the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), does not provide us with a gender-inclusive, singular, personal pronoun. And I don't want to refer to God in impersonal terms. (He is not an it.) Therefore, I use male pronouns because of my conviction that God is personal, not because I think he is male. Further, I wish to align my syntax with the ancient languages."
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Two weeks
It's been two weeks today. Two weeks from the day we drove out of LA and into the East Bay. Little did we know what adventures lay ahead of us. We were finally able to move into our house this last Sunday after being here for 12 days. 12 days of staying with friends and even strangers as we waited for renovations with this house to be completed. Well now, three months past the deadline, repairs are still being made. We've moved in... although we can't unpack yet b/c of all the work still being done. We are camping out in our house with our boxes, thankful for a place to sleep.
Our time has been full with house calls and visits and long talks with contractors and sub-contractors and owners and associations and random construction workers... as well as with Mosaic. This Sunday was our second official gathering. We are still in the process of finalizing a location and a time. The first Sunday we met at a park in Berkeley... the second Sunday at an arts center near the Cal-Berkeley campus. We haven't yet been able to find a location and a time that line up together... but hopefully soon.
Mosaic Bay (as I want to call it but we haven't formally decided yet) is going amazingly well. Our first Sunday at Live Oaks Park attracted just over 50 people, both from the East Bay and San Francisco. About 30 of those people are from the former church, the Berkeley Mosaic, while the others are new- friends of Mosaic LA attendees or fans of Erwin McManus. We are in the process of defining our non-negotiables or core values, and experimenting with times and locations. Such adaptability wouldn't be possible without email and cell phones. What did we do before this technology existed?
I am doing fine here, as some of you have asked. In fact, it feels completely natural and normal for me to be here doing this. That's the best I can describe it. Though I've only been here 14 days, I feel like being here (though the exact location is subject to frequent change) in the Bay area is just right where we belong. Exactly where we are supposed to be. For example, although I've never met in a park for church before, that felt entirely normal.
The only real challenge I face is my sense of responsibility. I feel compelled to be responsible for everything, every detail. And I can't for the life of me prioritize. I want to move, help lead Mosaic, find a job, financially provide, fix up our house... all at the exact same time. It's made for quite a few headaches. I give headaches to others too when I try to "micromanage" everything. Please pray for me specifically in this.
Well, I better go. We don't have Internet access very often although I'll check it as often as I possibly can. I do miss you, my friends. My concept of home has been on the move for the last four years, if not more. Home, to me, has always been, where my friends are. Wherever you are, that is where I am, at least in part.
Love
nik
Our time has been full with house calls and visits and long talks with contractors and sub-contractors and owners and associations and random construction workers... as well as with Mosaic. This Sunday was our second official gathering. We are still in the process of finalizing a location and a time. The first Sunday we met at a park in Berkeley... the second Sunday at an arts center near the Cal-Berkeley campus. We haven't yet been able to find a location and a time that line up together... but hopefully soon.
Mosaic Bay (as I want to call it but we haven't formally decided yet) is going amazingly well. Our first Sunday at Live Oaks Park attracted just over 50 people, both from the East Bay and San Francisco. About 30 of those people are from the former church, the Berkeley Mosaic, while the others are new- friends of Mosaic LA attendees or fans of Erwin McManus. We are in the process of defining our non-negotiables or core values, and experimenting with times and locations. Such adaptability wouldn't be possible without email and cell phones. What did we do before this technology existed?
I am doing fine here, as some of you have asked. In fact, it feels completely natural and normal for me to be here doing this. That's the best I can describe it. Though I've only been here 14 days, I feel like being here (though the exact location is subject to frequent change) in the Bay area is just right where we belong. Exactly where we are supposed to be. For example, although I've never met in a park for church before, that felt entirely normal.
The only real challenge I face is my sense of responsibility. I feel compelled to be responsible for everything, every detail. And I can't for the life of me prioritize. I want to move, help lead Mosaic, find a job, financially provide, fix up our house... all at the exact same time. It's made for quite a few headaches. I give headaches to others too when I try to "micromanage" everything. Please pray for me specifically in this.
Well, I better go. We don't have Internet access very often although I'll check it as often as I possibly can. I do miss you, my friends. My concept of home has been on the move for the last four years, if not more. Home, to me, has always been, where my friends are. Wherever you are, that is where I am, at least in part.
Love
nik
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