Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Efficiency - the Western demise (or not?)

I was taken by a quote by Thomas Merton. For a bio. of Merton check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton
He was asked what he thought the worst problem was facing Western civilization. Amongst the many things we might think he would say he replied: "efficiency". 
In a nutshell we are just so obsessed in being efficient, streamlining our vision statements, throwing out the 'dead wood' and giving medals to the 'achievements'.  Unfortunately in doing so we leave no time with those who need our time, hospitality, resources and acceptance in their inefficiency.  I think we are often driven by our need to be efficient and effective and loose the plot by ticking off success with the completion of our own agendas.  

Wednesday, January 05, 2011