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One Person at a Time, Please



This morning in the wee hours I was thinking about work and work people. I was thinking about why Dr. Rob got to be principal and I didn't. What were my failings, what were my trappings? Oh, my thoughts weren't specifically about "what makes him better than me", but the self-reflection was about us in contrast, most likely. As I was considering, I had a thought whiz in that I thought indicated growth on my part. I thought, if it came down to it being necessary, and Dr. Rob were getting into a battle of wills, that I might say something like, "how many times have you been a jerk with me? You really have to start to answer that question and figure out why or it could end up being a hindrance to you." As usual, it sounded right in my head, but the context of the situation made it seem plausible to say it, and have it be received. But the critical factor in it being received well, if at all, would have been in its power to convince Dr. Rob that it was really in pursuit of his own best interest to consider the claim. That's when it struck me: objective perspective! 

I was thrilled to think of this last night, thinking I had finally figured out what my key weakness is, my critical flaw, my constraint. If it is those things, it will continue to be so, because I'll not attempt to change them on my own (that's my indirect cry for help and admission of need, Lord). Nonetheless, we are thinking creatures, and able to make adjustments through the accumulation of thoughts that influence action, so, to that end, I further pursue consideration. 

This morning I was scratching my head, trying to remember those buzz words that so vividly struck me in the wee hours. Objective Perspective! Finally, as I was in the bathroom, headphones out, head in hands with the shower running in the background, I was able to remember. But this time, the revelation had lost some of its luster. Objective perspective? That's it? That's the big news? I knew there was something to it, but it didn't seem like the whole story. A google search on objectivity, subjectivity, the two vs each other, and objectivity in psychology turned up some interesting finds:

Objective in the perspective or to be objective, basically requires a few caveats. Separation of personal feeling or bias towards the situation/dynamic, open mind fully engaged yet discerning so as to not make conclusions, yet allow facts to separate from fiction. 
It sounds good, definitely something you would want from a leader, and worth pursuing, but lacking in some ways... and seemingly impossible for me. "Separation of personal feeling" is what I struggle with the most. And this is probably the key area of growth for me. Leadership is not about my feelings, although they will likely prove to be very useful if I can align them to God's purposes, but I need to be able to put my feelings aside, to hang them up for a moment, as I would a coat when coming in from the cold after being invited into someone's house to spell the discomfort of being on the outside. For a time, I would adopt new feelings, those of someone else invitationally to consider where they are coming from. 

Subjective refers to personal perspectives, feelings, or opinions entering the decision making process. Objective refers to the elimination of subjective perspectives and a process that is purely based on hard facts.
If there is a need for me as it pertains to these considerations, it is this then, that I put off the old man, and put on the new (eph 4:22-24). Really my revelation, was a heady one. I was thinking inside myself, by my own ingenuity. But as with all decent thoughts, or good ones, they do, at least, approach the truth. In this case, I would come closer to where I need to be with Godly Perspective. Objective perspective is too cold to build a philosophy around. We need something a little closer to the heart! When the perspective is cold and sterile, outside, then we can expect our guidance to come from outside. It might look something like this: In Numbers We Trust: the pursuit of objectivity in science and in public life. On the surface it would appear that this book by Porter is a celebration of pursuing to the end the claims that science makes. But in actuality, this book guides readers to a greater sense of reality. The theme is similar to that expressed by Kant in Critique of Pure Reason. It is not possible to function objectively. The question then becomes, how do we function?

He concludes... a reorientation towards single case research, a reappraisal of narrative and qualitative description
This from a review on The Pursuit of Objectivity in Psychology by Desmet. There seems to be a great need in our time to find objectivity, but the path to that objectivity, centering on us (people) and all we are responsible for (all that is in the world) as the objects, needs to give critical attention to whose rule we are subject. Whoever we deem to be ruler, ranging from ourselves to the Lord, I do hope for continued progress closer to the heart.

And the men who hold... [their] places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the heart
  
 Thank you, Rush!

Heavenly Father, I thank You that good thinking leads us to You. I pray that You help me stay on the right track, to relinquish my reigns, and to gladly come under You. Help me increasingly to have Godly Perspective, to help and think about others in the way that You would have me to. And help to have clarity on that this path of surrender is not soul crushing, but rather life-giving. And You are the giver of life. 

In Jesus Name,

Amen



https://issuu.com/vanderhaegenpieter/docs/pagina_s_van_bw_the_pursuit_6_laatste_corr (pursuit of objectivity in psychology preface, intro, ch1)
https://issues.org/ravetz/ (in numbers we trust review)
https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3458764513820550502/ (closer to the heart song lyrics with meanings)




 

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