I'm thinking here about open minds. About the willingness to think new thoughts, and dare to do new things.
I'm not a fan of change for the sake of change. But I do see times when we could do things better if we were prepared to do, or at least try, new options.
In churches, I see an example. We function on the basis of traditions which have been around for a long time. Sometimes when I lead worship, I deliberately take time to ask questions and listen to peoples' responses. I understand the importance of dialogue, where everyone's participation is expected and respected. Challenges are met and overcome when we all work together. And an open mind, a readiness to at least consider new ideas, rather than simply dismiss them, is a key element.
Just as long as you're not so open-mided that your brain falls out.
O is also for Occupy, organize, occipital, Orangutan, and Onondaga.
Blessings and Bear hugs, friends!
Wednesday 17 April 2013
56 comments:
So glad you've dropped by the Bear's den. Please leave a note -- getting notes is such fun, and often informative. I'll get back to you, here or by e-mail, as soon as I can (or, if it's winter, after I wake up). 'Til then, please Bear with me.
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Always that little caviat at the end!
ReplyDeleteJust getting to work and said a little prayer to stay "open" today...oddly came to my desk and took a little blog break before finishing the paperwork and tada! Who has Open (minded) on the blog? Serendipity?
Wonders never cease! (I mean, how often do you encounter a Bear who can use a computer?) Hope you've had a good day!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Ha! That's funny about becoming TOO open minded. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think being too-openminded is possible, but unlikely.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I am not a traditionalist, and to my family's chagrin, am open to new ideas. Tradition, although comforting at times, is someone else's idea and seldom questioned. Other than turkey for Thanksgiving and a tree at Christmas, everything is up for grabs.
ReplyDeleteTradition is someone else's idea, unless you have accepted it into the core of who you are. Then it's truly yours. But everything up for grabs is OK, too.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Having an open mind is always a good thing - no matter the circumstance.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in the arts, like photography. To be able to see a situation and imagine the picture that it can be, takes an open mind. Which (I think) is why you have such awesome photos.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I will tell or ask you something - we went to church last Sunday and the guest that spoke was older - retired - and he talked with that fire and brimstone. Do you remember those days - when i was little that was what I was raised on. Now a days there is all talk about God loving us. Do you remember that or was it is my imagination - and whey the change do you think? sandie
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, I've heard of that, Sandie. NO, you didn't imagine it. But I never heard it in our congregation. The focus, even in my teens, was on God's love for us, and our love for God, God's people, and God's world. As a matter of fact, that kind of "gospel" is still preached in lots of places. But I do not think of that as "good news." Especially when the words "Be not afraid" occur over and over again in the Bible.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Oooo I'd hate to have my brain fall out because like Poo, I too am a bear of very little brain. LOL
ReplyDeleteLong words bother me, too! Which is why I don't use them, except when I'm feeling playful.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Open mindedness is a blessing sometimes, otherwise we would be living in a stagnant world. Love your tagline at the end!
ReplyDeleteJust because you have an open mind, doesn't mean you accept everything you hear. For me, it's a matter of being willing to consider what is presented. There are things which I hear, and consider, but cannot accept.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I love that your posts always make me laugh. :)
ReplyDelete#1241
A to Z April Blogging Challenge
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/o-is-for-onyx/
Oh, dear! Here I am, trying to be a Very Serious Bear, and you laugh. I guess I'm need to be trying harder. Without being too trying.
DeleteThanks, anyhow.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I don't like change much either, but I have found you must be open to it and embrace it. It will do no good to fight it. It is better to just roll with the flow.
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Sometimes you have to go with the flow, though not always. There are times when I don't, for one reason or another.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I try so hard to keep an open mind. My job is one of those that is constantly changing, so I've had to learn to accept change and move on!
ReplyDeleteNot only are things changing, the changes keep coming faster and faster. Best wishes for keeping on top of all the stuff that comes at you.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Cultivating an open mind is relatively new to me. Maybe the last 10 years or so I have been figuring how to be unafraid of open mindedness. Realizing that as far as faith questions go, there is no danger of me ACCIDENTALLY falling out of God's care just because I doubted and asked questions of Him and His people that contradict the ultra strict upbringing I had in the church.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely and restful place to be able to trust in my relationship with God. I do regret all that I have missed in life experiences due to fear of being too openminded. But looking forward is a better use of my time and energy.
To be open-minded and unafraid is wonderful. To recognize we live within God's love is wonderful. And to recognize that there are some things we won't accept as the beloved of God is also wonderful.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Help me! Help me! I think my brain has fallen out ... do you see it up there in Bear Land?
ReplyDeleteThere is a charming and witty brain which showed up here today, quite unexpectedly. Now that I know whose it is, I'll send it back to you, promptly.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I believe in keeping an open mind...BUT (you probably knew that one was coming from me)...but, there is a point that one must stand for what is ultimately the unchangeable truth.
ReplyDeleteIn our society, I find it highly likely that people will "bend" and use the excuse of "open mindedness" to change something that is indisputable: the Truth of God's Word.
No matter how loud or how long one shouts, the Truth of God's Word is unchangeable. We "think" we can change it, but we only change our perception of it. The Truth remains just that: the Truth. And that is why I love God's Word so much. I can count on it. I feel safe in assuming that you feel the same way, my friend. No argument from me....just an assertion based on this particular category: "open minded."
Bear hugs,
Jackie
I agree with you, Jackie. Just because you are open-minded does not mean you accept everything that comes to you. I think I mentioned this already in the commnets, but some of the things that come to me I find unacceptable once I've considered them. Particularly items which question God's love, or our God-given responsibility to care for one another and God's world.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I think having an open mind is great and wish more people did. It might make it easier to have discussions rather than arguments about opposing sides of things.
ReplyDeleteDark Thoughts Blog
Conversations versus arguments. That's good. Thanks, Mary.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Keeping an open mind is pretty much essential to everyone, in my humble opinion. So many problems could be resolved if people were less bigoted.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe anything is ever set in stone - look at the options, study them, then make an informed decision, that's my opinion. *nods*
Great thoughts, Amber. Thanks for sharing them!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I've always enjoyed the brains joke. :) I love opening my mind just to the point where my brain is about to spill out, but not quite. :)
ReplyDelete#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
Thanks, Kristen. "Open your mind and say 'Ahhhhh!'" is the quotation I remember. Like breathing fresh air.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
It was Frank Zappa who said:
ReplyDelete“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.”
I always liked him.
Indeed, susan. Indeed!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
It's a struggle for me to accept change. I'm learning as I grow older, though, that it usually doesn't pay to fight it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my haiku today. I appreciate the support!
There are some of us who are not willing to change everything, and might dig in our heels. Natural justice is the first thing that comes to mind.
DeleteI hope you keep having fun with your haiku.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I agree completely!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julia!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Beautiful post. I love how an open mind also lets the wind breeze through and clear away stray thoughts :)
ReplyDeleteYes! Fresh breeze, indeed.
DeleteBTW, I like your frend in the picture with you. Cute. Both of you!
How better a place the world would be, if only more people were 'open'!!
ReplyDeleteBhavya
Just Another Blog
Indeed!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Great visual image, Rob...don't be so open minded that your brain falls out. Very well stated!
ReplyDeleteI like to play with words, and use them to make sense. I guess you've noticed.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Dearest Old Bear! I’m back and struggling to remember how blogging works! I was Jo, Reasons to be Cheerful 123. It’s great to see you and so many others still blogging. Hoping you are well. Lovely little post, I agree about open mindedness, it makes life much more exciting too. xx
ReplyDeleteHELLO, JO! Wonderful to hear from you! It has been almost a year and a half, and I've been wondering (and a bit concerned) about you!
DeleteThanks for the visit, and the note. See you soon at your place!
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Most change unfortunately is for the sake of change. Sometimes it's been done that way before and there is a good reason it isn't being done that way any more. But, alas, we are doomed to repeat history oftentimes.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes the change brings about things that were unintended consequences.
Other times, it is change that is due, and a "why didn't we do that sooner" kind of thing.
Knowing the differences is the challenge. I constantly pray that our country and its leaders will think before they just change.
Clink, clink...my 2 cents worth!
Dropped in from the AtoZ
www.mainelywrite.blogspot.com
Thanks for coming by, Donna. The unintended consequences are sometimes foreseeable, and the major reason for not accepting change.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
I think we can all use a reminder to stay open minded!
ReplyDeleteThanks and good luck in the rest of the challenge,
Lauren
http://blog.laurengrimley.com
Thanks for coming by and leaving our note, Lauren.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
This is an interesting post today. We are now led to believe - by all the self help books that personal salvation (whether it be diet or mind stuff ) is all about change. Yes, tradition and keep on keeping still has a firm place in our lives
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jodie. Being a bit of a traditionalist, I tend to ask questions before I agree to change.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Change can be so daunting. I've always feared it, but threw myself at change. Can't keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.
ReplyDeleteYes, change is a challenge. It means we have to do some things differently. Even small things.
DeleteAnd thanks fo the reminder from Einstein.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
My brain isn't falling out...more like seeping. Great post! Jennifer a.k.a Urban Gypsy Girl
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. Though, truth be told, I'm not sure how anybody could have a brain sleep through the A-Z Challenge.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting