Mac

I never realized how accurate this ad is until the past couple days when I had to do some tech support on a Vista machine in a church office. It's ridiculous how often you get asked to do, well, just about anything in Vista. Of course, it's all because the base operating system has so many security holes that make it an easy target for a third-source that might want to damage your files. All of this reminded me of a quote I heard a while back, "Mac OSX, because making UNIX user friendly, was easier than fixing Windows."

All of this got me to thinking about how we address various issues in our life, be it a personal struggle, relationships, a group we're a part of, or whatever else. When an issue comes, are we like Microsoft folks who focus on eliminating the symptom (there's a risk for a security breech so we'll put something in place to guard the gaping hole), or do we take a Mac approach and address the actual problem (getting rid of the hole)?

I'm thinking, more often than not, when confronted by something, we look at what's right in front of us, the symptom, and try and deal with that, rather they trying to diagnose what's behind the symptom (the actual problem). The problem is, we address one symptom and another appears ... and then another ... and then another ... and then another.

However, if we operate diagnostically and use the symptoms to lead us to the actual problem, we can actually find a viable solution.

Thoughts? Are you a symptom or disease kind of person? Have any examples to share?

Seth Godin's blog on Superheroes makes me think of my favorite commercial of all time ... the original Apple "Think Different" ad:

As I look at the faces in the commercial, Godin's words resonate in a whole new way, although, not in a way that I like:

Superheroes don't have a look, but they definitely have an attitude. They're restless and impatient, but, here's the cool paradox, they're also calm and patient. Patient because they realize that change takes a while. Patient because they understand that if it's worth doing, it's worth getting through the Dip. Impatient and restless, though, because they refuse to accept the status quo. Most of the time, of course, these can't co-exist.

I have a personality that has no issue being discontent with the status quo. It doesn't matter what it is, I'm always wanting something better, something greener, something more significant. That's why the Apple ad grabs me ... it feeds that part of who I am.

And yet, as I see the faces in the video and think about what many of those men and women went through to accomplish what they did, I realize that my natural discontent is nothing more than grumbling and ultimately bitterness if I don't learn the other side of the paradox that Godin identifies ... patience, or, and perhaps more important, perseverance.

So, when it comes to ministry, do I dare pray that I develop the other side of the coin? Do I dare pray for patience? Do I dare not?

Many of us love Mac ads, be it Mac vs. PC or just a new product being unveiled with catchy music. So, what happens when Microsoft attempts to be creative? This:

On another note, for all of you in the LCMS, doesn't this remind you of most of our video production and creative communications?