ADBC: 20 – Systems to Suck and Systems To Enrich

Here’s the premise of the conversation.

Wait a minute. This is the 20th part of the conversation? That’s something, right? 20 parts to this conversation – that’s a lot of questions to catch up on. I mean for at least the last ten parts there have been three questions per part – so what’s that at least 50 questions overall asked and answered by both of us. That is something.

That only happens because of the engaging way in which my brother plays his part. He asks the questions that challenge me to spend the time thinking through and exploring responses and then stretching me to ask him questions of varying qualities. I commend you to see the different parts of the conversation by clicking here and tracking back on the things we’ve covered.

It’s not just about looking back with thanksgiving, though, there’s also an element of provisionally considering what might happen … and … well put it this way, the 20th part is not the key milestone to mark …

Previously in the conversation: The quality of my brother is that he can take a question that appears vague and unclear and then put corrective parameters around it to lead to a masterclass in the breakdown of life. Just check his answer to the question on corruption. Seriously, if you took the time to consider what he says you have got to check yourself to see what that means for you, your key relationships and how you engage with the world as it’s framed. Brilliant work. There’s a wonderful definition of “good” which also leads to some heartbreaking honesty from one of my favourite human beings on planet earth. That’s wrapped up by a thorough insight into the making of the man and his music. One of the things I like about blogging is that it gives us a chance to make a practice of reading and writing and that opens worlds that other ways of taking in information cannot emulate. David’s small insight into his journey in music is one of those things that you read and just think and imagine … Read all about it by clicking here.

My brother threw across some tough questions my way and here are my efforts at engaging with them:

Q – The purpose of the state school system is not to create a nation of critical thinkers, but rather they are essentially factories of standardised systems to crushing a child into a good slave, not to generate such thinking but to kill it, and in its place have a mind that cannot think but what the state sanctions. True or false. Why your answer?

Hey yo, reader – I don’t write the questions, right? My brother does, so don’t go in on me for this – give him the grief! (Because that’s what good brothers do, just pass on the grief to others and delegate responsibility.)

Seriously, though, the question is phrased in an evocative manner to challenge me to consider the following – what is the purpose of the state school system? This question posits if you will, two possible outcomes – critical thinkers or state slaves. Given the choice and looking at the way the state school system is set up, it would tend towards the latter than the former.

The state school system is definitely not designed to promote critical thinking at all. The nature of the curriculum, the desire to get the students to cram their heads with set information ready to regurgitate at the given time whether in coursework or examination is ample enough for me to know that it’s more about what is produced that matters rather than an appreciation of the process and a consideration of alternatives at deeper levels. There is something about the state school system that is an effort to get children to conform and comply to a given set of behaviours and competencies. There’s a conventional approach to the indoctrination of children in that system that is not about the child as it is about the system.

There was an ethos about Every Child Matters which gave the impression that the focus was really on understanding the child and engaging with them. Yet with those noble sentiments, the system is still designed to ensure that each child jumps through certain hoops, needs to behave in certain ways, is recognised by their ability to work through certain subjects in the hope that they will emerge ready to take their place in a system that sets itself up to perpetuate those who conform rather than those who challenge, criticise or suggest there are alternatives. That’s why there’s the drive for compulsory education at key ages of formation so that alternatives are not entertained that could shift the overarching narrative as if that narrative is the best way for society to be formed.

What’s clear, however, is that it does not truly liberate, enable and shape the child on the merits of a guide to wisdom and shaping the child to understand what the wise life is or what the good life is. That’s not the intention. It’s not there to give them the tools to sort through that either in supporting parents to do that either. It is very successful at suppressing the mind of the child to the wide range of what’s available to that child as they grow up.

Even those words “grow up” are interesting, because that child may get older in years and be better skilled at adapting to the requirements of the system, but whether they really grow up and have the tools to mature … is not the concern of the state school system, whatever policies and procedures, framework and curriculum they put together. For example, something that being in that school system should lead a person to question is – why is there such a system? Are there alternatives? But of course, that would never be given too much credence just in case, you know …

Q – What is the difference between wisdom and intuition? Does wisdom have many counterfeits? If so, what are they?

Something worth reiterating at this stage is that I could just go to a dictionary, outline the two words and then explain the differences based on that. What I prefer to do, however, is to offer an understanding I currently have on those definitions and you can take it or leave it. Wisdom and intuition – wowsers what a combination of things to contrast and I can see why.

There are a number of people who hype up intuition. The idea behind intuition for some is that they have a “knowing” that does not come from logical, methodical and “reasoned” processes. They sense something, they pick up something, they just feel something and that is sufficient to guide them either to do something or not to do something. Intuition is where people refer to what their “gut” tells them. Intuition is the place where we’re called to follow our “heart”. I do not discount the role of intuition in decision-making at all.

Where wisdom is different to intuition, is that wisdom works by more of a conscious application of what is known and understood in a manner that should produce beneficial outcomes or at least inputs factors to act on the best of what is known at the time and applied. Developing wisdom begins with acknowledging the existence of God and actively relating to Him as He instructs. That’s the start of wisdom and from there it’s a process of gaining knowledge from Him through means He encourages and grasping as much of an understanding as possible on what you know and then applying that to every area of life in the light of who God is.

That is me saying that God has a role to play in every part of life and it’s best to involve Him to truly live the wise life. That kind of wisdom can operate through intuition as long as the intuition is based on looking to feel in line with that which is godly. If your source is God, if you depend on God and if all you want is to do what pleases God then intuition can work in line with that.

It is not to say, however, that intuition is all that it’s cracked up to be. Indeed the application of intuition in a number of cases highlights a lack of wisdom in how to live, how to communicate, how to make decisions and it’s not something that you should be eager to impress on someone growing up as to how to pursue a life that’s good, godly and glowing in what’s right.

That leads neatly into the issue of counterfeits to wisdom. Your timing couldn’t be better. I recently finished a series of blogs on the issue of comparing wisdom from above (that is from God) and wisdom from below (essentially godless wisdom). As with a number of things that are sourced in God, there are counterfeits. There are compelling alternatives. What makes them compelling is their appeal to the self to be in charge and to be right and to be the only true judge of what is good and bad, right and wrong. Things like the hyping of intuition and elements of the self-help material are examples of counterfeits to godly wisdom. They are prevalent in a world that rejects God with people that by nature won’t want to submit to the rule of God. When humanity makes those choices then it is unsurprising that alternatives are curated and then put on the pedestal of prominence for people to prostrate themselves to their own peril.

Q – What do you want to complete before the end of next year? Any aspirations or desires for within that time?

Oh wow. What a question. There have been hard questions before and this one is only hard in terms of how to express what I want to express without necessarily nailing my mast to something that may change over time. Nevertheless, this is a conversation and one being held with you, my brother. As such, I’ll look to be wise in what I share with you knowing that I can trust you to keep this in confidence (wink wink).

I want to get a regular podcast going. I’d also love to produce content for video platforms as well. I’d love to write the first book before the end of 2022.

Should conditions change favourably, I’d love for my family and me to go to [REDACTED]. It’s a place my wife and I were thinking about for some time and I’d love for us to be able to at least visit there and get a sense of the place. I also would love to make it to [REDACTED] as well with a friend to check out that scene once more.

If it’s possible, dear brother, I’d like to have made great strides in the development of my own business by the end of 2022 offering services from the gifts and abilities I’ve been given to serve others.

There’s a group of believers that I have the privilege of sharing life with from time to time, I’d love to see us grow as a group together internally and in our connection to others.

I would certainly love my financial situation to improve significantly by the end of the year more so that I’m in a position to give and invest in the efforts of others rather than padding myself or feeding my ego.

By the end of 2022, my two older daughters would have reached some significant milestones in their lives and I hope I can be a source of strength, wisdom and encouragement as they progress. It’s also a crucial year for my wife, so I hope to observe her hit some key goals.

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My brother I’m grateful for the questions to explore on this opportunity. Thanks so much!

Please give me your responses to these questions:

Q – “Failure to plan is a plan for failure” That’s a catchphrase used in self-development circles. How true do you think this is and what role does planning play in your life?

Q – The entertainment industry is largely designed to dull and corrupt the senses of its consumers. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Please give reasons for your answer

Q – What are your favourite memories of 2021 and why and what have you learnt over the year and how will that help you or others?

20 episodes of the conversation thus far, bro. Well done. Thank you for the consistent, excellent quality output, it’s an honour to converse with you. Here’s hoping for the strength and wisdom for more conversations if God gives us life. Thanks for your time.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden