How to Think 2 - What Thinking Well Is Not...
In this entry, I wanted to state what I am not talking about by the term, thinking well.
I am not talking about doing well academically
By doing well academically, I mean the ability to process and regurgitate a given set of information. What is required for a person to do well in school is to give the “right” answers (the answers the teacher is looking for), at the right time (when the student is asked verbally or for a test). I don’t mean to diminish formal education; I think school is crucial. Without a degree, many doors in the workforce remain closed and the higher degree, the more doors begin to open. Still, in the world of academia, there is not a premium placed of developing one’s own ability to think as I mean here.
I am not talking about doing well with memorization
I have always admired the ability some people have to remember dates and names. I love American history and can give you a sweeping overview of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, but I could not tell you exact years, places or names. I am interested in the development of stories, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot retain the precise details for more than a few days if I do not use that knowledge. Luckily for me, the lack of a good memory does not impede on one’s ability to think well.
I am not talking about quickness
Our brains are filled with long rows of filing cabinets. Some are filled with facts, some are filled with common sense solutions, some are filled with anecdotes, and so on. My wife is one of those people that can run to the appropriate cabinet and pull out exactly the right file for any given moment in the blink of eye. My brother is like this as well. These are ones who normally score pretty high on IQ tests. They can combine good memorization skills and common sense skills, throw in a dose of wisdom and articulate it well, while I am still on my way to the first drawer, wondering if I am even at the right one. While the ability to quickly tap into the right information is a help in thinking well, to think well does not depend on how slow or quick your mind works.
So then, what do I mean by thinking well? We will get more into this over the next few entries, but for now I can tell you that thinking well requires: humility, yearning & silence.
As I mentioned in my previous entry; thinking is work. There is no way around this. But for those who take the time to fully embrace humility, yearning and silence in their quest for wisdom, a life of easy answers and reactionary living will loose all appeal and not even seem relatable any longer.
Take a moment before you move on from this blog, even now and ask God to give you a deeper well of wisdom. James 1:5 tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
I am not talking about doing well academically
By doing well academically, I mean the ability to process and regurgitate a given set of information. What is required for a person to do well in school is to give the “right” answers (the answers the teacher is looking for), at the right time (when the student is asked verbally or for a test). I don’t mean to diminish formal education; I think school is crucial. Without a degree, many doors in the workforce remain closed and the higher degree, the more doors begin to open. Still, in the world of academia, there is not a premium placed of developing one’s own ability to think as I mean here.
I am not talking about doing well with memorization
I have always admired the ability some people have to remember dates and names. I love American history and can give you a sweeping overview of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, but I could not tell you exact years, places or names. I am interested in the development of stories, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot retain the precise details for more than a few days if I do not use that knowledge. Luckily for me, the lack of a good memory does not impede on one’s ability to think well.
I am not talking about quickness
Our brains are filled with long rows of filing cabinets. Some are filled with facts, some are filled with common sense solutions, some are filled with anecdotes, and so on. My wife is one of those people that can run to the appropriate cabinet and pull out exactly the right file for any given moment in the blink of eye. My brother is like this as well. These are ones who normally score pretty high on IQ tests. They can combine good memorization skills and common sense skills, throw in a dose of wisdom and articulate it well, while I am still on my way to the first drawer, wondering if I am even at the right one. While the ability to quickly tap into the right information is a help in thinking well, to think well does not depend on how slow or quick your mind works.
So then, what do I mean by thinking well? We will get more into this over the next few entries, but for now I can tell you that thinking well requires: humility, yearning & silence.
As I mentioned in my previous entry; thinking is work. There is no way around this. But for those who take the time to fully embrace humility, yearning and silence in their quest for wisdom, a life of easy answers and reactionary living will loose all appeal and not even seem relatable any longer.
Take a moment before you move on from this blog, even now and ask God to give you a deeper well of wisdom. James 1:5 tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
11:30 AM
Two entries in two short days...wow! What a relief to know my lack of conventional academic gifts and talents will not keep me from thinking well. You suggested asking God for a deeper well of wisdom. I have done so but I also find that the other things you mentioned (humility, yearning and silence) as neccessary for thinking well need to come from him as well. At least for me they do. Thankfully, he hears me! I feel he's developing these qualities in me as I cooperate with him. I can say that for me, it is a joy to work with God in this way. (It is work though!) top
8:57 AM
So true.
Once a year or so my brothers and I pick a well rated river or creek and go canoeing. In the water, there are times when the currents carry us and there are other times where the flow of the water is barely there and we need to use our paddles more to move and steer.
I have often thought how my life in God is like being in these rivers or creeks: There is a flow of His Spirit that exists all around me. At times, it gently pushes me along and at other times it forcefully directs me and still at other times, I need to pull out the oars. But even in those times that I choose to paddle, I would rarely choose to go against the currents. Ultimately I am going where the river takes me.
All things come from God and maturity is realizing that even our next breathe is a gift. At the same time, I have a choice to act with what He is doing in this life. Many throw anchor, others frantically paddle, still others close their eyes and lay back, unaware of the low tree branch coming up that is going to capsize their boat. In one way, growing in wisdom, as with any growth in this life, is learning the ways of partnership with God's life. In another way though, even that places too much credit in our actions.
There is nothing we can give to God because it ultimately comes from His hand anyway. When we learn the secret of flowing with His desires, it is no longer a hard work, because the whole force of the thing is beyond us. top
10:32 AM
In reply, I appreciate your thoughts on this subject, Vince. What you say is so true. Even your understanding of this flow is from the Spirit and I sense Him behind your words. Thanks so much for sharing... we didn't have to wait for a blog this time! top
8:07 PM
I love your analogy of the filing cabinet for the person with the good memory. Some people can reach into the cabinet and retrieve info easily and quickly. I have often lamented the inability to do this well. But maybe it has been a blessing in disguise. People with great memories and answers on the tip of their tongue have to work at holding their tongue more than I do. It is so easy to come up with a quick answer to a complex situation. Maybe I would have put my foot in my mouth more than I have if I was quicker with information.
If I thought I was smart maybe I wouldn't have depended on God as much. I guess God made us the way we are for a reason. top
9:17 AM
Again, I think the filing cabinet analogy is great. No one would speak of a computer as smart or wise. It simply has a lot o information in its files and it spouts out the info on cue. Who is cueing you I guess is the key to good thinking. If you're being taught by God, and He is in control of your heart and mind that is the ideal. Many people who have much information are bad computers. You ask them a question and out comes information that is not only not helpful, but misleading. The conditon of a man's heart determines how well he thinks and speaks. "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." The Pharisees of Jesus day did not recognize God's visitation in their generation. Although they were the Biblical schollars of their day they were spiritually blind. They were going around trying to accuse and find a way to kill the one God had sent to them to help them think clearly.
I wonder if we are hearing the prophets of our generation whom God has sent to help us think clearly? top
10:30 AM
Back to the filing system analogy. The amount of info in the files isn't as important as the way one uses the info. This is where thinking comes in. How one thinks determines how one uses the into. Is one looking to judge or love? Are you seeking to hurt or help? The character of the thinker is critical to how he uses the info in the files. I think it's the most important element in the filing system. That's why being a leader in the church is more about character than Bible knowlege. The pharisees of Jesus day had great Bible knowledge but lacked humility, among other virtues. So they were unfit teachers. They were leading people into a pit. They were blind leaders of the blind. top