E: End of year droplets

The number of days left of 2007 are two. The number of hours left at home with my family in Brøstadbotn is few. The pace of life has decelerates around Christmas with time off, many meals, and a bunch of family and friends. The business sense of being productive is distant, but efficiency can be measure in many ways. For my own mind, it has been healthy to tune out a little. It is in times like this one realizes that real creativity or inspiration often comes once you stop thinking too much.

For instance, I have not had so many ideas since I started my job (I had plenty coming into it) as I have had after I went on a break. This will hopefully rub off on the coming issues of Agenda 3:16.

Here are some others bits of my thinking the last couple of weeks.

There are two extremely vital questions in everyday life, about which we (I) spend far too little time thinking:
1) How am I - really?
There is a difference between asking what’s up and figuring out what is really going on on the inside and why. This I want to spend more time thinking about for the time to come.
2) What do I want to do with life?
What to study? Where to work? Many many many a time I hear people tell me that the reason for them to educate themselves to whatever they do is coincidental. When comparing the amount of time people spend choosing high school, university etc with the number of years of given subjects the choice leads to, it is almost scary. Of course there are chances of swapping, withdrawing, changing etc, but often it does not happen. I think it should be far more mandatory presence and scheduled meetings with school counselors to assure that people give their choices proper thought.

When being employed, many stick to their job for a while. But some maybe stuck too long. If people enjoy themselves and get enough challenges, that is all good. But I believe there are others who do not properly assess their own satisfaction and qualities in terms of thinking ahead. One does not have to stick to the profession one starts out in or is educated to do. At least not in my mind.

This brings me to the discussion I have had for some time regarding what I will do in the future. I am still trying to figure out. For now I know I will work as a journalist at least till this summer, probably for all of 2008, maybe longer. But in the back of my mind I have a notion that journalism is not what I do (or can do) best. I think my qualities are more in terms of counseling, coaching, leadership, motivating and analyzing – putting creativity into the formula. Other than consultation firms (HR, strategy, leadership, maybe media), I have given (police/crime) investigation some thought.

Another writing thought: My writing tends to be annoying complex – at least for other people. I have never been accused of writing too simple. A vague theory is that it is a rebellious act. I never really had a big period of provoking and uprising in my teens. Thus, I thought my way of composing text could be a subconscious way of protest. I have been working with an anxiety of repeating words/phrases/myself. At least up till now. From 2008 I will do my best to write things the way they are. Period.

Barns herlige formuleringsevne 2

Her kommer 11 gullkorn til, som en oppfølger til Barns herlige formuleringsevne.

1) Gamle damer har nesten brukt opp kroppen sin og de er ofte så utbrente at det lukter svidd av dem.

2) Hvis du går en tur og hjernen faller ut, så finner vi ikke veien hjem for da kan vi ikke tenke klart lenger.

3) Kneskålene er to skåler som sitter under kneet, i tilfelle man får vann i kneet

4) Hvis du vil bli tynn i en fei, kan du bare gå til legen og bli støvsuget

5) Fordøyelse er noe man gjør i fordøyelsesparker

6) Hvis det er like strevsomt å være forelsket som å lære seg å skrive, vet jeg ikke om det er verdt det

7) Nå er det blitt ozonhull i himmelen. Det gjør gulvet til Gud ikke helt tett lenger. Det kan bli et problem.

8) Hvis man er støl i huden kan man bare smøre seg med tigerbalsam. Den virker fort, for moset tiger er ganske sterkt

9) Kona til Gud heter Gudmor. Hun er moren til alle barnebarna hans: Moses, Jesus og Julenissen

10) Øl gjør ofte at kroppen blir usymmetrisk

11) Å være engel er et typisk kvinneyrke.

E: Merry Christ’s mass!

We have just entered the most discussed and advertised holiday in the year. Christmas is here. Although my childlike excitement toward the season has lessened over the scope of the last few years, I treasure it greatly as an important tradition and family get-together. This appreciation was strengthened this year due to the airport chaos from Oslo, which kicked up a fuzz regarding my traveling up north.

December 24th, Christmas Eve, is the big day in Norway. Candy, children’s TV, church, dinner, cakes, singing and finally opening presents is our routine. This is similar to the one of others. We had the entire core family present, including sister-in-law, brother-in-law + his mother and sister. My uncle, cousin and his son also came for dinner. It was a happy dozen for dinner.

Commercial interests have in many ways transformed the last week, or month, of the year into a materialistic mess. Yet, the Old English origin of the word is literally Christ’s mass.

I do not oppose the parcel exchange, as long as the aim can be the giving side of things, not the receiving. Serving, giving and sacrificial behavior is Biblical big time. After all, John 15:13 states: ”Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. I am personally very found of providing people with gifts of various kind. In recent years, to give when not expected (outside of Christmas, birthdays etc) I find a cooler thing to do. Two challenges with this: A materialistic focus increase and possible wrong interpretations (particularly when (a boy) giving to a girl) c,”). I also have an increased desire for giving gifts that can change the world or make the difference (i.e. financial support to various charity/development work with a symbolic card/present given to the receiver). There is not all that much stuff one needs when having the privilege (or curse?) of living in the wealthiest par of the world. Having said that, I keep being amazed of all the creative solutions and gifts I receive from friends and family every year – this year included. A big thanks to all.

Christmas is also an “excuse” to get in touch, say hallo, send a greeting, meet up etc for both family and friends. This is also the case for me, Christmas normally being one of the two times a year I go home north.

But, like I wrote in the beginning, the holiday is originates from a holy day – the day Jesus was born. What I found chiefly nice this year was that my mother, father, brother and sister-in-law sat up till nearly 3 am talking and praying – drawn together around the person who was born as a fragile, vulnerable human, faced the challenges with opposing the current religion leaders and eventually dying for the sake of mankind.

Enjoy the holiday!

Pictures of various things will be coming.

Teipet sterk mening

I dag var jeg på trykk i Dagbladet - med følgende kommentar på Sterke Meninger:

Bortkastet teip
Hvorfor i all verden bruker hopptrenerne- og lagledere masser av tid og energi på å filme sine utøvere med dårlige handholdt utstyr? Er det noen som kan tipse dem om at det går an å ta opp TV-sendingene på video og heller be dem nyte rennet?

Her er noen andre ytringer jeg har klapret i dagboka mi den siste tiden:

Bakskjermraseri
Til deg som har stjålet bakskjermen på sykkelen min to ganger i løpet av to uker: Kan du vennligst si fra på forhånd neste gang du planlegger å gjøre det en dag det høljeregner, etter at sykkelbutikken på hjørnet har stengt? Vær på vakt for en gjennomvåt, gjennomprovosert mann med balltre og hevnlyst.

Grønn glede
TV2-nyhetene melder at FEE Norge (Foundation for Environmental Education) deler ut grønne flagg med logoen sin på til alle skoler som satser på miljø. Oj oj oj så inspirert og supermotivert jeg ville blitt for en bærekratig utvikling for kloden om en privat stiftelse hadde drevet høyreist reklame og markedsføring ved hjelp av flaggstanga mi!

Misvisende reklame
Gebyrfri.no reklamerer disse dager med at de har 98 % tilfredse kunder.
Wow, liksom?! De som misliker tjenesten har selvsagt funnet andre leverandører av banktjenester. Det eneste oppsiktsvekkende for meg er hvem i alle verden de to prosentene er som ikke evner å melde seg ut.

E: Grounded in Oslo

I am supposed to be in my home town Brøstadbotn for Christmas preperations. Instead I just finished an extra day of work in Oslo. Fog and ice have caused chaos (see article from VG (in Norwegian)) at Oslo Airport Gardermoen, which have lead to numerous flight cancellations yesterday and today. Unfortunately for the airlines and us passengers, this Thursday and Friday are two of the busiest travelling days a year, with 70,000 people paying for airborne transportation.

My flight SK 0397 was scheduled to take off at 10:10 PM last night. I came ready and excited as early as 9, just to see a crowd of travellers and bags. My immediate thought was that «this will take a while», but felt slightly more concerned when revealing that all self-check in counters were closed and the lines were at standstill as there were no staff admitting luggage or tickets. Instead of information, there were journalists and cameras. Many newcomers, including myself, made a few phone calls to try to figure out what went on. After a bit the loudspeakers advised all passengers to check on the screens for updates. Many were delayed, a few cancelled, but so far nothing regarding my flight. A chapter of reading later (Stephen Baldwin – The Unusual Suspect), the next message declared that all flights with the airline SAS were negated.

I did not care to be frustrated – the airlines cannot change the weather – and headed back on the express train. And I could not help smiling at the irony of the train hostess making the mistake of saying «have a nice flight» before correcting herself to «have a pleasant stay» as we arrived back at Oslo central.

I booked a new flight for Sunday at 6:20 pm, but still await possible changes in flights and times, in case it is possible to head home earlier. Time will tell. I just got through to some information centre, telling me to show up at the airport tonight and hope that I will get on some flight. I highly doubt I care to wait for hours and hours for something maybe, but will rather be in touch if a larger flight is put into traffic.

I feel all right about the situation, although I would very much like to be home with my family. As long as I get there before Monday, I will be all right.

UPDATE 8:20 PM (Friday)
I will fly out tomorrow (Saturday) at 1:35 PM if the weather allows. An extra plane will be taking off, as long as the fog does not reappear around that time. The forecast is not the best, but I am optimistic. Yeah!


PICTURE TAKEN FROM VG

X: Divine drip/Himmeldrypp 14

My notes after the sermon on prayer in church Sunday.

What: Sermon in Storsalen (Church in Oslo), December 16, 2007
Who (preacher): Egil Elling Ellingsen
Scripture (part of the Bible): Matthew 6,7-13 + Deuteronomy 1,30-31

* The Lord’s Prayer can be seen as an instruction or key to prayer.
* It was, as it would be today, fairly controversial to told people to pray and particularly NOT to pray certain ways – as Jesus did just prior to and with the Lord’s Prayer.
* Prayer is not about performing, but to relate to God – in a way that God can act. One is to strive for word shortage as the words themselves do not matter all that much. God already knows what you need in advance of your prayer.
* The first sentence, Our FATHER in heaven (or: who art in heaven), establishes lots in terms of the frame of mind required when praying, rather than praying to a abstract power or wrath. This is also point of a little distress, as it will also make God into a best friend position Jesus already has. How do we make room for two?
* No one has experienced a perfect (earthly) dad. The Biblical father is as follows: loving, close, but also firm and strong. And one who ALWAYS cares.
* When you pray, the order is God first (name, kingdom, will) and then ourselves (bread, forgiveness of sins, salvation).
* Suggestions for ways of praying:
1) A straight forward Lord’s Prayer (LP), calm with related aspects in life for the various segments.
2) Prayer with perspectives related to life (as you find them in LP)
3) Study one segment of the LP in particular.


---

Mine notater etter preken om bønn i helga.

Hva: Preken i Storsalen, 16. desember 2007
Hvem (taler): Egil Elling Ellingsen
Bibeltekst: Matt 6, 7-13 + 5 Mos 1, 30-31

* Fader Vår kan ses på som bruksanvisningen eller nøkkelen til bønn.
* Det var, som det er i dag, kontroversielt å si til folk ikke be slik, men slik, noe Jesus gjorde med akkurat Fader Vår.
* Bønn handler ikke om å prestere, men å relatere til Gud – slik at Gud kan handle. Man bør etterstrebe ordknapphet, det er ikke ordene som betyr noe. Gud vet hva du trenger før du ber om det.
* Første setning, vår FAR, avgjør mye om hvordan man er når man ber, i motsetning til om man skulle bedt til en makt eller vrede. Dette er litt skummelt fordi det gjør ikke bare Jesus, men også Gud til noen nær som en bestevenn. Har man plass til enda en?
* Ingen har erfart å ha en perfekt far. Den bibelske far er som følger: kjærlig, nær, men også myndig og sterk. Og sørger ALLTID for oss.

* Når man ber , er rekkefølgen først opp til Gud (navn, rike, vilje), så ned til oss (brød, skyldsforlatelse, frelse). Dette gir riktig fokus: Han først.
* Forslag til måter å be på:
1) Fader Vår rett frem. Rolig og med (dags-/livsaktuelle) relaterte aspekter til de ulike leddene
2) Be med perspektiver relatert til livet (som man finner dem i Fader Vår)
3) Studere ett og ett ledd i Fader Vår