Repeat! Repeat!
Argh!
This is part 12 of my 14-part series on problem solving for Christians. Make sure you are subscribed to get the whole series! You can read the previous posts at stjezzer.substack.com. I am delighted to offer the whole series free of charge. If you appreciate the value I am giving, please do consider either a paid subscription, or a one off donation using the button below.
Last week, we looked at identifying what happened between something working, and something breaking. At the end of the post, I talked about the importance of learning.
However there is one thing that many people - including myself - do, which demonstrates we haven’t quite learned what we need to learn… yet.
Let’s say you open your web browser freezes as you click a button on a website. So you click again. And again. And again. You start yelling at the computer, and keep on clicking madly, as if the computer is both deaf and stupid (which I suppose, technically, it is).
The computer, being both deaf and stupid, dutifully stores your multiple clicks in its memory, ready for execution once it unfreezes, blissfully unaware of your torrent of insults you are hurling in its general direction.
Doing the same thing over and over again seldom yields a different result.
Clicking the mouse multiple times, doesn’t change what is not working.
Rehearsing the same argument with someone who doesn’t understand your point of view, won’t change anyone’s opinion.
Repeatedly starting a car with a dead battery, won’t get you anywhere.
So why keep trying the same thing which is clearly not working?
Part of discernment discussed a few weeks back, is about detecting when something is not working, and thinking about a different approach. What other options do you have?
Finding a different path is not always easy. Matthew 7:13-14 talks about the wide gate and the narrow gate, with the narrow gate being the one that leads to life. As Christians, we have access to an all-knowing God, which makes the narrow gate accessible. Not easy, nor popular - but accessible.
And before we jump into discussing the other options, ask yourself this: do you know what you are doing? What do you do, if you feel like you don’t know what you are doing? Or that narrow gate seems too hard? We had better talk about that in next week’s post!
The content provided in this post - and throughout this series exploring Problem Solving from a Christian Perspective - is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It reflects the personal opinions and experiences of the author, St. Jezzer, and is not intended as professional advice of any kind, including but not limited to legal, medical, psychological, financial, or pastoral counselling. No guarantees are made regarding the outcomes of applying any ideas or strategies discussed. The author, St. Jezzer, disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or adverse consequences resulting from the use of or reliance on this content. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance for any personal, mental, spiritual, practical, or other challenges they may be facing.