A Masked Ball

I realize that we can’t lay the blame entirely on advertising, the blame must be on us all collectively, but since most advertising has little to do with the actual product – the industry has done an admirable job in teaching us to avoid critical issues, not think things through, not ask questions, and sidestep the unpleasant.

Perhaps advertising is only superseded in this respect by the spin doctors of corporations and politicians. We are being tutored in lying and subterfuge to the point that the truth is alien to our thinking. The idea that “perception is reality” is a fool’s mantra – a day of reckoning will come, sooner or later.

“Perception is reality” leads to deception, which leads to more deception, which leads to more deception – who can we believe when everyone lies? We justify our deception under the ideas of advertising, marketing, spinning a narrative – the ends justify the means…but neither the ends nor the means are worthy of pursuit.

We are at a masked ball – but the dancers have forgotten who they really are. When the ball ends they won’t know where to go home to, for they no longer have homes…they are homeless and restless…

Kenny Sailors and the Jump Shot

It’s hard to believe that basketball didn’t have the jump shot until the 1930s or 40s. The man who invented it (or popularized it…as the case may be), Kenny Sailors, died on January 30 at 95 years old. Imagine playing basketball without the jump shot. While there are a few men whose fans claim that they invented the jump shot (I guess we’ll never know), the point is that at one time there was not only no jump shot, but when the early proponents of the jump shot tried it they were criticized by players and fans and at least one player was benched by his coach.

Consider the following from a New York Times article: Players made one-handed, leaping layups and left their feet to rebound or block shots. But no one more than five feet from the hoop who faced the basket would lift two feet to shoot the ball. And if someone did, he would be ridiculed or scolded into conformity.

This of reminds me of playing the game of life, especially the Christian life, without submitting to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to animate our lives – our feet never leave the earth when we try to put the ball in the net – we live flatfooted. The early proponents of the jump shot tried it so they could shoot over taller players; they didn’t accept the idea that just because a player guarding them was taller that they couldn’t shoot over them.

How often do we convince ourselves that we can’t do something because the obstacle in our way is bigger or taller than we are? 

Leadership Without Gravitas

I am too quick to judge. Of course, if someone has sprinkled rat poison on my pancake it may be that being quick to judge is helpful.

I was at what I thought was a business event, instead I had a throwback to kindergarten – except that my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jingles (yes, that was her name), could lead us in games because she had gravitas about her – we learned and we played and we knew who the teacher was. She, in her own way, inspired us.

When leaders can no longer inspire they entertain or they make lots of noise and commotion – or they do it all at once. Instead of vision we have entertainment. Sustained vision requires sustained thinking…no wonder there is no long-term vision to be found.

As I reflected on the business event I realized that what I saw is what the attendees see from leaders every day – religious leaders, political leaders, business leaders. The attendees were mimicking their culture, and sadly perpetuating it. Too bad Mrs. Jingles isn’t still around.