An Introvert in an Extrovert World

I’m an introvert in an extrovert world. The BBC reports that 92% of the population thinks it is better to be extrovert. (BBC News Magazine, 27/3/12).

I can do the extrovert thing – be social, go to the parties, speak up when it’s needed – but it’s hard work. I prefer to be reflective, spend time on my own, read books. By no means am I a loaner, but I enjoy my own company.

And I’m not alone. The Myers Briggs psychometric test shows there are a third to a half of the UK population that are introvert. And when you dig into the data, you find that some of the best leaders are introverts – maybe because they think and reflect more on the urgent issues before taking action – or before opening their mouth!

I’m in good company anyway. Here’s a few of the more famous introverts: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, J K Rowling, Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford.

According to Myers Briggs, I’m an INTJ – an introvert who is intuitive and rational. I will leave others to judge! In the meantime, maybe I’ll spend today in my study, reading a book…..

Seven Miles Deep

James Cameron, the filmmaker and explorer has just reached the bottom of the deepest ocean in the world- the bottom of the Mariana trench in the Pacific. That’s seven miles deep, in an environment that is likely to be more alien than the moon. Only the third to descend this far and the first in this part of the sea since 1960, he will be collecting data and imagery that will be entirely new to us.

The ‘Deepsea Challenger’ is a purpose built capsule and is protecting Cameron from the 8 tons of pressure outside the cabin.

The world we live in is amazing. There is always something new, whether it be the smallest creature or the deepest sea.

Thank you Richard Dawkins

One of my favourite programmes is The Book Show on Sky Arts. I know, a bit pretentious isn’t it? Guests are invited to talk about their latest book and to discuss other favourites. It was a surprise to see such a heated discussion on a slow moving programme, but Richard Dawkins decided that he had been slighted by the host Mariella Frostrup when she moved the discussion on from his railing against Christianity. His attitude was so far removed from the regular show, it became almost amusing.

This isn’t the first time Richard Dawkins has got angry- but the more he does it, the more he is helping the church. Here is Mary Ann Sieghart of The Independent, as quoted in The Week.:

The Church of England is lucky. It couldn’t have asked for a better enemy. The contrast between the ‘puffed up, self regarding, vain, prickly and militant’ Dawkins and the ‘charitable, open, welcoming, tolerant, undogmatic’ church is practically an advertisement for anti-atheism.

Thank you Richard Dawkins.

Risk

There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day passed away,
His insurance was denied,
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never really died.


Anonymous poem  from Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell.

You Steady My Heart

Some signs of improvement, but still struggling with a virus that has pretty much knocked me out these last few months. In the meantime, Kari Jobe's new song says what needs to be said:

Even when it hurts

Even when it's hard

Even when it all just falls apart

I will run to You

Cause I know that You are

Lover of my soul

Healer of my scars

You steady my heart

Pressing On

As I look into 2012, it is with some pain. Literal pain. I’ve had a virus now for nearly 12 weeks. I’ve lost two stone in weight and every movement hurts. It is only a virus and nothing more serious, but it’s hard to walk, hard to move much at all.

The virus will go. The pain will go, and I must press on into a new year with all its possibilities. Here’s how the famous Indian poet Tagore put it:

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.

A Year of Change and No Change

New Zealand earthquakes. Japan Tsunami. Japanese nuclear power stations. The Arab spring. Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. Libya. Gadhafi’s death. Syria. Egypt again. Bin Laden’s death. Royal Wedding. Norwegian shootings. Riots in London. Riots in Britain. Phone hacking. Somalia famine. Turkey earthquake. Pakistan floods. Philippines floods. Anti-capitalist camps. Greece crash. Italy Prime Minister. Euro troubles. Euro veto.

And the year is not over. 2011 is one of those years when more has happened than we can begin to write down. A lot of it tragic. But one thing remains the same: ‘I the Lord do not change’ (Bible: Malachi 3:6).