See you next week!

Character 11: The Other

In sociology there is a term called the "other." It refers to people different than oneself in a variety of categories: ethnicity, gender, political party, sexual orientation, religion.

At Macalester College in St. Paul where I work, the other is everywhere.

I find it tempting to deal with the other categorically: 

"She's in category X. Thus I can manage her in such and such a way."

But real men and women, each a blend of personality, values and nuances, interfere with such generalizations. So I feel challenged to engage the variegated particularities of each person.

Here is an other I've grown to appreciate deeply: Rabbi Barry Cytron, professor and Jewish chaplain at the college.

We meet Tuesday mornings. He is brilliant and engaging. We've been talking about hermeneutics, sin, human nature, the role of Jewish and Christian traditions, the Shema, parables, midrash and other theological goods.*

Not that we agree on everything; in this dialog conflict is inevitable.

In my worst character moments the rabbi and all the other others are little more than stick figures boxed into labeled containers. I take this to be a sign of prejudice.

In saner moments I see the "other" as distinct, valuable and complex. Hardly the one-dimensional characters my darker side wishes them to be.


Hermeneutic: interpretation (here, of the Bible)
Shema: Deut 6:4-9, Matt 22:37
Midrash: commentary on Scripture, often from rabbis in the ancient world

Character 10: Strength or Weakness?

For evangelicals, the 1970s and 80s were characterized by strong male pastors and elders who knew the word of God and preached the gospel unambiguously.

These men were part of the "Builder" or "Silent" generation and the early boomers.

Then something changed. The arrival of the later Boomers, Gen-Xers and postmodern culture in the 90s caused the guys at the top to back-pedal a bit. There was a call for authentic, even raw, spirituality.

For the next 15-20 years leaders had to be "real" to gain the trust of young people. Thus you saw displays of vulnerability and weakness in the pulpit and in popular Christian literature and music.

Yes, the pendulum swings.

Two questions, then:

• Biblically, which is the priority, strength or weakness? 

• How do women fit into this picture?

Character 9: Finding Yourself

After a recent meeting with a college student at a school in Minnesota, I went away thinking, Wow, she really knows herself.

I don't often think that. Imagine it: 21 years old and self-knowledge squarely in place.

I can't say the same for myself at 21 or 31 -- or . . .

Maybe at 51 I was getting a clue.

Five characteristics I see in the mirror these days:

• Quiet
• Thinker
• Motivated
• Big-picture oriented
• Teacher

That's a representative sample.

Two points for your consideration:

1. Know thyself. Hopefully you're quicker than me to figure out the person inside.

So, who are you? Name 5-10 of your God-given traits.

Write me with your list! I'd love to know.

Hint: you probably need community -- wise friends and colleagues -- to figure this out accurately.

2. Accept what's missing. It's tough to admit my gaps. Holes in my profile. Settling on a "self" is great -- except I find myself saying, "Darn. That's it? That's all I've got? Seems skinny."

I wish for a host of additional characteristics that would "complete" me as a person.

But then, if I had all that I wouldn't need you, would I?