RE:framing, Week 4
Week 4: Laying Our World Bare
Skill: Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Tool: Problem Definition; Causes Diagram
Reading: Andy Crouch, Playing God, pp. 15–166; Roger Martin and Sally Osberg, Getting Beyond Better, pp. 27–105
Power. Idolatry. Injustice. Image-bearing. Flourishing. Crouch’s lexicon supplied you with touchstones and signposts to mark how your relationship with the world and each other shifted while downtown. You participated in powerful “stuff-making and sense-making” as you dreamed up Big Ideas and captured pieces of yourselves through your Portfolios. But you also remembered that such “makings” were never deserving of your worship.
When we “do” power the right way, everyone has the opportunity to make something of their worlds. And then, humanity can experience what it feels like to flourish. When that doesn’t happen — when power is not multiplied but hoarded — our relationships, our churches, our systems, our planet bear the scars. Our flourishing depends wholly on others. Without others, there is no flourishing.
Weekly Questions
- Crouch writes on page 71 of Playing God, “God hates idolatry and injustice because they are the same thing?” Think again on this intersection. Spend some time reflecting on how your own idolatry has explicitly or complicity contributed to injustices. Where in your life do you need to redirect your worship? How is idolatry keeping you back from all-out flourishing?
- Students watched the Anand Giridharadas talk on the Tale of Two Americas today. A gripping story of hatred and forgiveness, Giridharadas’ talk seems eerily prescient given our country’s polarization. Put the talk in conversation with Crouch. Where do you see people “playing God” in Giridharadas’ story? How does that shape his argument that the United States is a country of two republics: one of dreams and one of fear?
Words for Reflection
“Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightening to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind — ”
-Emily Dickinson
Extra Credit
Take an observation walk this week to break out of your standard patterns of seeing “the truth slant” (you could even bring your cohort along to enrich the experience through a multiplicity of perspectives). Walk through a familiar place (e.g. campus, Coast Village Road, your neighborhood, etc.) and spend 45 minutes observing with all five of your senses. What do you notice about people, businesses, animals, relationships, transportation, and customs? What strikes you that hasn’t before? How do these observations influence your abilities to innovate? Problem solve?
Event Announcement
Tai Sunnanon
Monday, February 27, 5–7pm
Westmont Downtown
Dinner is provided!
Tai Sunnanon is the founder and president of the si3 group, a full-service consulting firm committed to social impact. He has spent 20 years as a social entrepreneur, leading companies, teaching at Harvard, and running political campaigns.
