Tribbles and Post-postmodernism

When asked recently how my new job was going, I thought of this picture. I'm buried in things that I like, but I'm still feeling definitely buried.

Another metaphor that came to mind was trying to take a sip of water from a ruptured fire hydrant.

But I am enjoying my new work; it's just a steep learning curve that at times feels more like a steep incline than a curve.

I find that what I'm lacking here is shared history. I am fully capable of doing the work, but since little was written down (despite some good computer file management by my predecessor), it's difficult at times to figure out what needs to happen where and who needs to be contacted in the process. My co-workers have been great (and patient), but I'm frustated at times with myself because it feels like it's taking me too long to adjust.

Must the be smog.

But as I was driving along Lakeshore Road for several hours on Sunday (huge accident on the QEW so alternate routes had to be sought out), I really felt God was saying that this week the penny would drop and I would start making sense of it all.

Not a moment too soon.

On a different note, I was intrigued to read in Jason Clark's assessment of where Emergent is going that they (the top mucky-mucks of emergent) are recognizing that using the term "postmodern" is somewhat near-sighted (pomo-centric?) on the international scene.

The Third World, for example, hadn't really bought into modernism in the first place, so any critique or deconstruction that postmodern thought and theology might offer doesn't really fit after all. Nor does a critique of seeker-sensitive churches, for the same reason.

The folks at emergent are realizing that perhaps a better term might be "post-colonial" -- even using "postmodern" as a term to be exported to the rest of the world was (to a degree) still being colonial!

I hadn't thought of it that way before, but it was one of those "DOH!" moments.

See, despite the fire hydrant of new information coming my way, I am still having random ponderables regarding ministry!