I am such a Charlie Rose nut, he deserves his own category on my blog. I have learned more about one of the most important (and least appreciated) skills in life from him than any other person: asking good questions. I TIVO his program and watch it almost daily, no matter who is on.
Last night I watched an interview with Cate Blanchett, then I watched most of a program that first aired in '99 featuring Rev. Gardner Taylor (Concord Baptist Church of Christ), Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete (Archdiocese of New York), and Reynold Price (author).
I was struck by the different experiences I had watching the two programs.
Watching Blanchette, I was riveted. Yes, she's a beautiful actress, etc., but that wasn't it. I was energized in a way I recognized. I was energized by someone speaking my language...the language of creative people. I know virtually nothing about acting, directing, screen writing, etc. However, when I hear people talk about these things I feel as though I do know something... I recognize the WAY in which they speak of these things that matter in regards to their craft, their vocation.
Watching the other program, I was strangely bored (if not irritated). This surprised me. These are intelligent men in conversation about important matters that matter to me (Jesus, faith). Why was I bored?
One thought is that they were not "speaking my language". It wasn't the content so much as the way they HELD the content. They were so self assured. They were talking about the greatest of mysteries with very little sense of childlike wonder, or a sense of being struck by how much more there is to know.
To be fair, the Monsignor did articulate a bewilderment about humanity's own inability to receive (or perceive) God's grace (God loves not because we are good, but because God loves). But what was missing for me was a humility that communicates, "You know, I could be wrong."
Then again, these guys are GIANTS and maybe it's I who just don't "get it".
It reminds me of story I think I read in a Markides book about a monk who claimed the Lord called him to sit upon the top of a 40 foot pole and fast for weeks. After a few weeks, the other monks became distraught, saying, "How can this silliness be of the Lord. Clearly he is mistaken about God's will."
After the monks met to discuss how to address the issue, they called the pole-sitting monk (who at this point was dirty and smelled) down off the pole and proceeded to scold him, "Who do you think you are? The Lord did not will you up this pole! This is nonsense. We command you cease this senselessness immediately."
The monk responded by descending to his knees and bowing to his accusers saying, "I am sorry. You are right. I must be mistaken. Please forgive me."
To this, the accusing monks looked at each other and then demanded that the monk return back up to the top of the pole declaring that his humility had proven his holiness and the purity of his heart. Clearly it was the Lord's will that he continue his work on top of the pole.
More than ever, I see younger people looking to "pole-sitters" before PhD's when it comes to matters of the spirit.
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