by tashmcgill | Feb 16, 2015 | Movies
I have several indulgences in life. Firstly, I rarely take a book with me for a plane trip. Indulgence #1 – I prefer to buy a book at the airport (preferably US Trade size and pricing). I like to choose something that is new, unreleased in New Zealand yet and something that fits my mood in that very moment. It helps me to focus on being present during those delicious flights where I switch off from my phone, the internet and often, the people sitting alongside me.
This November, as I was wandering through Nashville airport it was Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, ‘Wild’, that caught my eye. The film was already in production, featuring an erstwhile Reese Witherspoon on the cover. Easy choice. The true story of a somewhat unlikeable woman facing a crossroads of family and personal trauma and choosing to process her pain through an at times impassable hiking trail appealed to my sense of adventure.
I read her story in just two sittings. Partly because the book itself is at times too easy to read for the depth of human experience it covers.
I immediately planned to watch the film after its release. Which brings me to Indulgence #2. A movie for one, with a glass of wine in one of my favourite cinemas. There’s something truly lovely about surrendering to the experience without care or regard for anyone else!
Verdict on the film:
Given the nuanced subject matter of the film, it’s no surprise that it’s release has been small scale. However, Witherspoon’s performance is measured, grounded and believable. If she has previously always erred a little too far on the side of good, I found her characterization of Cheryl remained rooted in a woman with neurosis and addiction issues. While the film skimmed through some of the internal monologues that filled the pages of the book, the masterful editing pulls through pieces of Strayed’s past in a rhythmic cadence with her present.
Given the book is a personal memoir, you almost wonder if the author has come to like herself yet. By the time she leaves the trail, Cheryl is not a protagonist hero. She has overcome plenty but you get the sense there is still another mountain pass to climb through. The film is not about Strayed finishing the trail, but about the ways we find ourselves again after we’ve lost the path. Strayed, if not likeable, is certainly admirable. You might say the same for her mother, played by the always outstanding Laura Dern.
The book paints a character who is dangerously flawed, suffering through domestic violence and falling into alcohol abuse before a swift redemptive arc places her back on a path to achieving super-womanhood. Her death highlights Strayed’s view of injustice in the world, as well as her struggle with her own life and death choices.
Why you should see the film? Because these stories, told without romantic and unrealistic happy endings are important to understand and perceive as possible. You’ll enjoy seeing Witherspoon play a character with some depth and unresolved trauma. This is her best work since Walk The Line, in my view.
Book Vs Film: This is a rare instance where I think you could happily choose one or the other. Certainly I believe reading the book first made it easier for me to connect with Strayed on-screen. There are deeper and richer nuances capturned in the 300 pages of memoir that simply couldn’t of survived the cutting room. But the essence and truth of the story is there.
You’ll remember the line: “Putting myself in the way of beauty.” And the pragmatic relationship Strayed, a writer, has with her books along the path.
www.rialto.co.nz
by tashmcgill | Dec 10, 2008 | god ideas, Uncategorized, youth ministry
At last, I was so excited when this book arrived on my doorstep courtesy of a somewhat begging-type email to Marko. International shipping would’ve cost me $53 US.. which is kinda funny. The wait to see this book hit NZ shores .. well who knows how long, but considering all things.. I wasn’t prepared to wait.
There’s something great about seeing the words printed and the smell of the book. The hardcover and layout is great.
So – although I could’ve posted previously on the book – I wanted to wait until I had my copy, had re-read it just like everyone else. I’ve loved the conversations on the Facebook group as people are reading, thinking, devouring, wrestling.
Opening Statements
1.
I’m entirely biased towards the overall goodness of this work. Marko is my friend, fellow youth ministry type person, thinker, wise talker, grounded theologian and passionate exhorter of positive forward movement in youth ministry philosophy and practice. He’s also incredibly humble and has been so openhanded with the creation of this work and subsequent dialogues that he’s really embodied the essence of some of the YM3.0 premises we arrive at in the final chapters.
2.
I’m entirely biased because these thoughts reflect both my passion for adolescent development,’cultural anthropology’, sociology, community psychology AND young people, the reformation of youth ministry practice and the future of the world. Many of these words and ideas are threads of my own story and I’m stoked to have had the opportunity for conversations around these ideas with Marko and the many other readers of his blog, YS groupies and the like.
3.
This is not a typical youth ministry book because there is no cure prescribed – in fact, more or less, we’re left openended with a brief framework of some diagnostic tools and applications. The conversation is left openended intentionally. It does not answer all the things we instinctively want to be answered, because we have to wrestle with plenty of things ourselves.
Now…From The Beginning
I really loved Kenda Creasy Dean’s introduction – she nails the spirit of the book and the author. I’m a sucker for reading the forewards and the acknowledgements. And this section really sets you up for what you’re about to read. She highlights the honesty and potential discomfort of the ideas.
Framing Change in Youth Culture
Marko does a great job of reviewing the key tasks of adolescence, the emergence of youth culture and the history of adolescence in a broadsweeping but clear overview for people that get lost in the chaos of what all the science and psychology tells us. I’m a sucker for most of the reference material he refers to – and the recommended reading list at the back of the book provides great material that further unpacks these key ideas. There wasn’t much about actual brain function – but that’s ok, because you don’t want to lose people too soon in!
Marko’s concluding statement addressing where youth ministry as we’ve known it is currently failing highlights the shifting priorities of adolescence and how we’ve been slow to respond.
Implicitly, the question is brought to mind – with this elongated adolescent period, what does this mean for the future of the 20-something youthworker? It’s commented on in the sidebar too.
My lingering question : What happens if you line up generational shifts alongside these adolescent priority shifts and the responding youth ministry changes? What can we learn from mapping the past and present in order to make wise choices for the future?
A Brief History Lesson
The story of Youth Ministry 1.0 and 2.0 covered in chapters 3 & 4 highlights a few important things – including that the “first youth ministry missionaries” did it exactly right – they responded to youth culture by “letting it inform the language and topics of youth ministry.”
The charts included are helpful for mapping the drivers, youth culture fixation and key themes. Love those.
My lingering question : How much deconstruction of Youth Ministry 2.0 has to be done in order to have a healthy foundation for YM 3.0? Much, none or some? Is it possible to leap into YM 3.0 from 1 or 2.0 (yes, whispers of 1.0 still exist) or must there be a 2.8 process? What is the role of leadership and broader church context? Can a youth ministry grow (this is a better idea than leap or shift) into 3.0 without the active participation of the whole spiritual community?
Chapter five includes some gems.. Like Chris Cummings statement on pg 67
“This generation of teenagers knows there’s something worth living for beyond themselve, but they’re struggling with actually defining it.. and everything else in our culture says it’s all about them.”
This is a classic observation of the Generation Y tension – and what creates such a great melting pot moment for YM 3.0 to hatch in these communities of young people assured of their own value and voice, desperate for a way to make a difference.
Marko leans heavily on some of Tim Keel’s concepts from Intuitive Leadership (another big emphasis on how great both the endnotes and reading list from this little book is .. ) when talking about the role of youth workers shifting to “cultural anthropologists with relational passion”.
Much of the practice ideology here is straight out of a mission context that has been successful forever – Paul started it. “Culture informs contextualisation” is a great phrase that should stick in the mind. Themes of Communion and Mission were wrestled with publicly on the blog and the picture of a Present youth ministry took shape with the voices of dozens of youthworkers.. they translate well into this section. They also form an almost impeccable mesh with Generation Y values of tribe, cause, flexibility.
My lingering question : Ideologically, it’s perhaps the biggest shift the book deals with, something that really impacts the practices of goal-setting, future planning, curriculum development, the very fabric of what spiritual formation in practice looks like. Marko is truthful enough to say what many of us already know deep down – that programming small groups does not build true community. Small groups of young people and volunteers who truly embrace life together on a wider scale do – but that kind of “community curation” (my phrase, not Marko’s) I think requires a different mindset than what the current “ideal youth worker” might be in the minds of those hiring.
So…How do we get there?
This has to be the most frustrating but the most liberating section of the book – Marko raised great concepts, ideas and gives lots of permission to experiment, to fail and to invite multiple voices into the process. He offers a few key ideas – like Contextualization and pushes at colonization approach that some have had towards youth culture.
My favourite part of this chapter throws open the question of what real life-long learning in a youth ministry context can look like when YM3.0 will also require so much unique cultural anthropology. The priority of incarnational life with real young people becomes so particular. The stories and lives of the young people we are actually with (Present).. are the best blueprint to the youth ministry we are doing (Mission in current context). To me, it feels like a welcome spring clean of the boardroom whiteboard where we’ve drawn endless visions of what we’d like our youth ministry to be in 5 years time. (I’m not convinced that there isn’t a place somewhere for t
his thinking, but probably not in the priority line it has been in.)
Points of Note:
Discernment features strongly in this chapter – and my friend Jill recently commented that “discernment and intuition have a lot in common – discernment is perhaps educated intuition?” I think there is merit to the point especially in the context of discussing the communal discernment of a group in regards to youth ministry. So, discernment (being something we more naturally attribute to wisdom and age, experience) is perhaps the maturing spiritual gift of intuition that may be present in many of your young people/leaders/surrounding voices..that intuition may be found in those that naturally ‘feel’ the ebb and flow of the ‘environment’.
Multiple groups have been an issue of contention and whilst not supporting this as THE way forward, Marko presents it as an opportunity. You could argue that the response of people to this possible programming tool demonstrates a high level of 2.0 thinking that still resides. Others ask the question fairly enough, how to do this in the context of small ministries – but it’s an idea for consideration, not a prescription. My reflection is that this kind of approach allows affinity to be one of the key tasks worked out through your ministry.
Experimentation is a strong value here, especially the process by which the young people themselves are the dominant storytellers.
Supra-Culture is the youthworkers dream. “Common affinity found in Christ alone”. My thought would be that having the same philosophy or values at the core of your ministry would enable multiple groups to work out unique expressions of this Supra-Culture.. again, lots more experimentation and reflection required. More of a labratory of youth ministry as many have commented on in discussion. The messiness of this is absolute, guaranteed – but the longterm effectiveness of this approach may be highly rewarding.
My lingering question : Lifelong professional development for youth ministry that doesn’t sit in isolation from broader church leadership, that focuses on developing practical contextualization skills and anthropological thinking/frameworks that youth pastors can use. How? Also – how to encourage and enable youthworkers to hold the desire for effectiveness and the mandate to experiment and exegete locally in tension?
My lingering thoughts from this chapter:
Whilst Marko doesn’t cover the brain/biology equations, I think that the role of Feelings & Experience in the faith train diagram are vital. As these experiences and feelings form neuron pathways while cognitive recognition of “God” occurs – they must be valued. Thus the “feeling” and “experiential” components of our ministry may actually help form “faith” foundations while the rest of experience is in chaos?
Youth Ministry 3.0 will acknowledge the humanity and validity of teenagers – they are contributors “in development” and “in practice”.
The role of family-based ministry will need to change – for those places where it’s in practice.
We need to come up with new frameworks for KPIs, goal setting, reassessment and staff management in this area.
And So To End
I read this book last night with a drink, a starry night and a cigar.. in honour of such nights in San Diego! There were lots of things I underlined. Lots of things that will continue to be discussions over the coming years. I am excited for multiple copies of the book to arrive onshore so that meaningful conversations can start around so many things…
There are things I wrestle with – mostly to do with how we can appropriately engage in these practices and conversations in a way that sees real change. How quickly can we translate and establish new training and support structures for this new way of thinking and crafting youth ministry? How do we, taking these lessons, begin to also look ahead to what the kids of Gen X and Gen Y will look like and how youth culture may continue to map our response in youth ministry?
Mostly.. I’m glad to be part of the conversation. This reengages my hope and desire to work with young people and for young people – for the sake of attainable belonging or affinity with the person and body of Christ. (I’m not sure how they are both important or expressed, but they both are.)
by tashmcgill | Nov 16, 2008 | Uncategorized
Seth Godin’s book Tribes.
If you need convincing that this is a GREAT little book to read try this…and this for just a taste of how these ideas about leadership and community momentum can dramatically impact what you get up to.
It also sits well alongside the ideas of Medicine Man Chief, about instinctive tribal leadership and community structure.
An eBook version of Tribes Q&A is available here, a work put together by volunteers and inspired by the book. As Seth says – juicy insight on every page and it’s very pretty too.
by tashmcgill | Oct 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
Been & Seen & Read Updates…
A busy month of travel and good times is fast coming to a close – a weekend away two weeks ago at the beach in Ngunguru was a much needed remedy for the soul. It was great to soak up the sun in Northland. I re-read The Unbearable Lightness of Being, in keeping with my current reasoning of trying to work my way through the list of classics that really must be read within my lifetime. Not knowing how long that lifetime may be, it pays to keep ahead of these things!
Also managed to squeeze in Body Of Lies which i thoroughly enjoyed – I continually enjoy Russell Crowe in roles that have such undercurrents and depth. Particularly gnarly knucklebuster scene, but great storyline and plot.
Last Wednesday I spoke with Papatoetoe Baptist Church youth group – a crazy bunch of kids led by my dear friend Marty (with cohorts Todd, Caleb and Fraser. It’s the 4th presentation on adolescent development/sexuality I’ve done this year and another couple of presentations on the way – I so love talking with girls and guys and creating some fresh frameworks for helping them to develop healthy sexuality that’s integrated with their spirituality.
This last weekend was a great escape to Brisbane, and the most delightful part catching up with the Winslades and van Vliets. Playing chaperone to a 7 year old boy was a jolly good time and we returned exhausted on Monday. I also managed to polish off Love In The Time of Cholera which is also on the classics list.
On the plane I managed to enjoy Fools Gold because I unashamedly love a bit of adventure and frolicking. Besides, there is a treasure hunter deep within my soul somewhere!
Highlights of Brisbane were Southbank, including it’s gorgeous and highly functional park with mini-beach included, such an inspiring public space that really made me think about worship spaces in community. The japanese restaurant Dani and I went to on Friday was truly great. The McGills Whiskey Special came out for the troops on Saturday.
On the way home I snuck in a very disappointing My Blueberry Nights which proves once and for all that not all people that sing can act – it had great potential but it really didn’t carry it off.
In the midst of that, work is ramping up into the busiest season with Parachute on the way, as well as various other projects. One of the greatest enjoyments of work recently is being able to use the vast amount of research into the GenX / GenY chasm I’ve been stockpiling into good use! Hopefully this will become a seminar format that will be useful for both youthworkers, church/parachurch staff and not for profits. I’m very interested to continue looking at the development of fresh strategies for churches in crossing this divide!
Coming Up
This holiday weekend looks set to be a bit miserable weatherwise, so the current plan involves a list of classic movies in a stay-at-home filmfest… any recommendations are warmly invited! Also on the list, a viewing of “Everything is Spiritual”.
Next week I’m preparing a talk for Blueprint in Wellington on working for the kingdom in all sorts of ways. It will be interesting to bring some of my own story into being here. Ideas around how the kingdom bursts out of the doors of church:institution and into everyday lives. At the moment I’m planning on incorporating a hands-on exercise too and I’m looking forward to spending some more time with like-minded friends. (Yes, that means whiskey and cigars, at least I’m hoping).
I’m going to embark on a novella, for my own amusement more than anything else, and inspired to collaborate the ideas of philosophy, spirituality, art and poetry into a story about hope and humanity. We’ll see – I may yet prove to be overly ambitious – but the upshot is, my other manuscripts are also making slow but steady progress.
Conversations
Are focussed around generational divide, communication, church doctrine, the new reformed, calvinism’s comeback, fear of the calvinist comeback, art, love, hope and church politics. Filtering all of those things are work, youth ministry, young adult ministry and the forthcoming elections.
Really Enjoying
Having Mark Pierson back in the country and being able to interact with him in a variety of capacities, from last night at a gig in town, to around the table at a World Vision presentation for work. It’s so engaging to have ongoing dialogue with his wisdom and experience. His ability to recognise, engage and ask significant questions and bring accurate observations is gold to my soul.
Meeting Kevin Denholm of Exposure after a steady stream of people in common, it nows feels a little that I should simply pass on Kevin’s greetings to most people of my acquaintance! However, finally connecting in their offices last week was a positive and joyful experience – seeing how other storytellers have excelled in doing kingdom work in significant ways and bringing beautiful things into being.
Grasping a few moments of conversation with Brian Winslade over the weekend in Brisbane, about things going on. When I first came to my church to do the internship, working under Brian was one of the key influential factors. In the short few months that he’s been absent, I have missed hugely the significant impact of his wisdom, skills, talent and intellect in shaping and guiding my steps in the world.
Song Of The Moment : One More Day
by Rosie Thomas
One more day
Just one more day then I’m done
One more car ride and
One more rising of the sun
Then I’ll jump so high
Angels will catch my fall
I’ll jump so high
Angels will catch my fall
I had my chance and I just showed it to the door
I won’t apologize to myself anymore
So I’ll jump so high
Angels will catch my fall
I’ll jump so high
Angels will catch my fall
One more day
Just one more day then I’m done
No more failures and
No more feeling alone
by tashmcgill | Aug 6, 2008 | Uncategorized
Inspired By Max
I’ve never reviewed a book here before… and in fact, whilst being an avid reader, I suspect it’s because I’m not a really good reviewer. I can read it, tell you what I think, but I just don’t know if my reviews making inspiring reading. However, Max has inspired me (even his dad is the king of reviews…)
Markus Zusak has written the kind of novel that transcends genre. It’s both historical, highly fictionalised, stylised and character-driven. The narrator, Death, leads you through an interesting, impersonal and yet thoroughly emotive perspective on humanity and death. The motivations of the characters are almost as interesting as wondering why the author chose to include their story, or in fact, why Death remembered each of them. Some of the most fascinating back stories are left thoroughly in the dark.
It’s both poetic, stylistic in construction and deeply moving, yet solidly in novel form, which is very different to House of Letters, that I’m also trying to work my way through.
At times it’s very dark, but never so far that you feel trapped in the awfulness. It’s not a heavy read at all, and consumable over several sittings – the kind of story that wanders at the back of your mind but doesn’t incapacitate you from participating in reality while not reading.
Available in a kids version as well, appropriate given the nature of the main (human) character, I could see teens and adults alike devouring this piece at different levels – there are interesting family dynamics at play that could make for interesting dinnertime conversation.
