This questions is probably aimed more at my fellow seniors, who will be graduating soon, but definitely a question for anyone to answer. If you attended chapel today, and the luncheon afterwards, this may be repetative, but I’d still be curious to hear what you think.
What does a good transition look like to you? What will be hard about leaving JBU and what are you looking forward to?
As a follow up to the last question, where do you currently like to give? It could be any kind of giving, not just financial (of course). What causes, organizations, etc do you feel are making a difference?
Today’s question comes out of the JBU Chapel service yesterday, Blake Mycoskie– Toms Shoes. He listed several things he’s learned from his experience starting Toms, and the first was about giving. However, I took some issue with how he presented that idea; he seemed to say that we should be generous and giving because it feels good. I may be putting some words in his mouth there, but I think an interesting question is what the purpose of giving and being generous is? What would you say, why should we give?
Today’s question: How would you define leadership, in your own words, in one or two sentences?
I have done a lot of programs that talk about ‘leadership’ over the years. So it has been something I’ve thought a lot about. However, someone asked me recently to define leadership in one or two sentences. Quite a challenge! So I’m curious to see what you think.
I have been a part of a fantastic book club this semester with several of my friends here at JBU. We are reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. So far a fantastic experience (both the book club and the book). We met tonight, and I was particularly struck with an interesting discussion we had about questions–good questions.
I suppose each of us could think of at least a handful of questions we’ve been asked over the course of our lives. I know I have several questions that still seem to ‘float’ around in my mind. The point of our discussion was how important and invaluable these questions are to our lives. Yet, how often do we attempt to ask these “good” questions? Far too infrequently, I’m afraid.
I have also been convicted by a quotation early on in Zen:
We’re in such a hurry most of the time we never get much chance to talk. The result is a kind of endless day-to-day shallowness, a monotony that leaves a person wondering years later where all the time went and sorry it’s all gone. (p. 8)
I immediately identified a lot of these “hurried” conversations in my own life. My conversations with many of my friends consist of shallow topics centered around the events of the day. I am blessed with friends that often have excellent, meaningful conversations (take my book club, for example). But sometimes, even so, a lot of the daily conversations I have with people really are nothing more than hurried, shallow glimpses of something better.
Pulling this all together, I was thinking about the role of questions in a good conversation. The best conversations I have are usually centered around answering a good question. What makes a good question? I don’t know that words can really quantify it, but you know it when you hear it. I feel challenged to start attempting to ask more “good questions.” Especially in day-to-day life. Slowing down, unhurriedly (now there is a challenge!) asking questions and listening to answers.
If you haven’t noticed already, I’m playing around a bit with this blog. I think I will start a new “series” of questions. This isn’t my private journal, after all, so I always welcome comments and interaction about what I write. But what if, rather than writing, I asked a question? Would you respond?
Let’s give it a try: What’s a good question you’ve been asked that has stuck with you?
