The Courage to Live Transparently

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word transparent as "having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clarly; fine or shear enough to be seen through; free from pretense or deceit; readily understood; characterized by visibility and accessibility of information..."  As I read that I thought to myself, "No hidden agendas, no secrets."

I can only wonder what life would be like if all people lived transparently, openly and honestly without hidden agendas.  How might our communication change and all of our relationships enriched?  I have to believe that our frustration and stress levels would be significantly reduced, which would improve our physical well being, because the need to read between the lines, or read the tea leaves as I like to call it, would be removed.  Just the thought of that feels very liberating to me.  Why is it that people feel such a need to expend so much energy pedaling like hell on the inside in order to keep the mask up on the outside?

I believe it is out of the fear of being known.  The irony is that at the core of every being is the desire to know and to be known.  The caveat is that people want to be known without shame.  They want to be loved and accepted in spite of their warts and their flaws.  But because they fear exposure of being less than perfect, somewhere along the way they determine that the risk is just too great and they consciously choose to put on a mask.  So many people find it easier to burn precious life energy wearing a mask than to find the courage within to boldly face that giant of fear and slay it!

I am one of the most transparent people I know, and I can attest to the fact that it requires courage.  And while I meet people are attracted to it, I often find that they will take advantage of it.  The challenge is to learn to live transparently without leaving myself vulnerable to being deeply wounded by those who are less than honest, to put it nicely. 

To those courageous sojourners who are on this path with me I say, "Bravo!"  I would love to hear from you because we are a rare breed and we need to encourage one another.  The temptation to put up not only a mask, but iron clad walls, is huge at times.  Yet I know that in so doing I would be living dishonestly with myself or with others, and I would not be following Christ's example.  I truly believe that the greater choice is to continue to live transparently knowing that I may be hurt, and trusting Christ to be my shield and my guide.  I hope you will do the same.


References

Transparent. (n.d.) In Miriam-Webster's online dictionary.  Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transparent.

Our Relationship with God Matters

I can hardly believe that I completed my BA in Communications almost six months ago, and it has been equally as long since posted anything on my blog.  After watching the movie Julie and Julia today, I was inspired to get online and jot down a few lines.

The challenge for me is deciding what exactly I want to blog about.  About what am I the most impassioned?  Well, as strange as it may sound to some of you, I am the most passionate about God and how our relationship with Him is a direct reflection of our relationship with the people in our lives.

While some religions teach that God is very impersonal, my experience says otherwise.  And when one truly studies the scriptures, God was anything but impersonal throughout the entire Bible, from cover-to-cover.  In church yesterday, the preacher said, "Following Jesus will mess with your life."  And when something messes with your life...well...that's pretty personal.  And the truth is, it should mess with your life.  It should change your behaviors and how you treat other people.

Up until recently, I was entangled in a relationship with a guy who professes to be a Christian, yet he treated me almost as if I had leprosy the majority of the time.  It was a constant cycle of come here, go away.  In so many words, he would tell me to go away, and then he would resurface almost as if to say, "Oh, I know I said to go away, but don't forget about me."  Well, he treats his relationship with God the same way.  He shows up at church periodically just to make sure God doesn't forget about him, as if that were possible anyway, and then he goes about living the rest of his life the same way he has always lived.  One can only conlcude then that the man is not truly following Jesus, because it is not messing with his life.  If he were, he would never have played the games with me that he did.

It is very discouraging to say the least, because this man is definitely not a good example of what it means to be a Christian, which is a turn off to the world.

Bunn Brewer Technicalities for Coffee Lovers

Ever wonder how the Bunn coffee maker brews coffee in three minutes?  Here's how.

How the Bunn Velocity Brew BX Brews Coffee in Three Minutes

Introduction

The Bunn Velocity Brew BX brewer is a coffee pot that brews up to 10 cups of great tasting coffee or tea in three minutes through the use of an internal hot water tank.  The intended audience for this paper is those who brew coffee, tea or both on a daily basis and have never used the Bunn Velocity Brew BX brewer, but are interested in learning more about how it brews coffee so quickly.

The internal hot water tank keeps the water about 200 degrees F at all times, so coffee or tea is ready in three minutes without tasting bitter (Bunn, n.d.).

The steps to brewing hot coffee or tea in three minutes listed below are (1) filling the internal hot water tank and turning it on, (2) using the funnel, and (3) making coffee or tea.

The Process

Filling the internal hot water tank.  After unboxing the BX brewer and removing all packaging, rinse the coffee pot with soap and water, then fill the pot with fresh water and pour into the tank by opening the lid on top of the brewer.  It will take a couple of pots of water to fill the tank.  Once filled, plug the brewer into the power outlet and turn on the hot water tank by the switch on the bottom left side of the brewer.  As the stainless steel hot water tanks get hot, you will hear the sound of water being heated.  Once the water reaches 200 degrees F, the sound will stop and the hot water heater will maintain the temperature of the water.

Using the funnel.  Place a coffee filter inside the funnel and fill it with the desired amount of coffee.  If making tea, just place the desired number of tea bags inside the funnel.  Then, slide the funnel into the track located just below the brewer’s on/off switch on the top front stainless steel panel.

Making the coffee or tea.  Fill the coffee pot with water to the desired number of cups.  Pour the water into the top of the brewer as when filling the hot water tank.  Close the lid and immediately place the coffee pot onto the pot warmer underneath the funnel.  The brewer immediately begins to draw hot water from the hot water tank equal to the amount of water that was just poured into it, and it flows through the funnel into the coffee pot, providing freshly brewed coffee or tea within three minutes.  Turn the warmer on with the on/off switch located on the stainless steel panel on the front of the brewer.  The water that was just poured into the tank is then heated to 200 degrees F and remains in the tank until another pot of coffee or tea is made.

Summary

The water that is poured into the internal hot water heater first is the water that is used to make hot coffee or tea.  As fresh water is poured into the internal hot water tank, the Velocity Brew BX has to make room for it, so it releases hot water into the funnel, making freshly brewed coffee or tea within three minutes.

References:

Velocity Brew Bx. (n.d.). Bunn. Retrieved on July 17, 2011 from http://www.bunnathome.com/products/velocity-brew/velocity-brew-bx

What Makes A Good Blog?

The communication era in which we find ourselves has completely revolutionized the many ways in which we communicate on a daily basis.  A blog, which is likened to an “online personal essay” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108), has become a widely used media that people can use personally or professionally to build a network of followers with which to communicate and collaborate.  “Blogs are informal, informative and often entertaining” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108).  The goal is to create an effective blog, which is one that will capture the viewer’s attention, keep them coming back, and motivate them to join in on the dialogue, all of which requires meaningful content and visual appeal.

If the blog design is visually unappealing, the likelihood that the viewer will stay long enough to read the content is pretty remote.  Michael Martin, founder of Pro Blog Design, states that there are seven elements to making a blog look good: structure, balance, color, small details, clarity and emphasis, remarkability, and functionality.  According to Martin, the blog design should be easy for the viewer to follow with a color scheme and enough white space to make it easy to read; emphasis should be placed on the most important elements; and it should be functional (Martin, June 26^th).  A blog that is visually cluttered with irrelevant material will quickly lose the viewer’s interest.  The viewer will leave the site and remember it no more, which is not the goal of a successful blog.  “Design is not important solely when the visitor is on the site, but also when they have left it” (Martin, Sept. 24^th).  Ultimately, the blog needs to be authentic and memorable.

One of the easiest ways to authenticate a blog is to add personal photographs or other images. The use of images can break up the text, making it easier for readers to continue reading the content.  A recent study conducted with EyeTrackShop on the way social media users view profiles revealed that users focus on images and the text nearby, which indicates that the use of multiple images can help guide readers down the page (Clay, 2011, para. 5).  But, personal photos and other images alone are not enough to attract returning viewers to a blog.

Blog content is a vital part of creating an effective blog.  Blog posts need to be informative, yet interesting enough to hold the reader’s attention.  People want to be entertained, and if they can simultaneously learn something new, or be brought up-to-date on a particular topic of interest, the odds of their returning to the blog significantly increase.  Incorporating humor and sharing real life stories are great ways to entertain and inform viewers.  The abundance of reality television programs is proof positive that people enjoy peering into the lives of complete strangers.  Jenny Seeby with Ezinearticles.com writes, “People love real life experiences.  What about the things that have gone wrong?  Gone right?  It only has to be vaguely related to your topic – as long as you can find some link with it, you’re fine” (Seeby, n.d., para. 6).  Nevertheless, blog content needs to be current in order to maintain relevance.

No one wants to read the same material over and over; therefore, blogs need to be updated frequently.  “You must post regularly to keep people coming back and in order for them to regard it as a useful source of information” (Seeby, n.d., para. 7).  We live in a world in which there is nothing as constant as change, and viewers want to read fresh and new blog posts when visiting a site.  A blog that is not updated on a consistent basis communicates to the viewer that the author is passive about the subject matter, and the blog will not be viewed as a credible source.  However, updating a blog does not have to become a full-time job.  Simplify the process by sharing the material of others sometimes and be sure to give credit where credit is due.

People blog because they have something to say; therefore, they will be glad to have their blogs cited, provided they are given attribution.  Likewise, posting outgoing links to other sites may inspire them to return the favor and generate incoming links back, which can help earn a blog a higher rank in search results (Clay, 2011, para. 7).  Additionally, sharing information from other sources is a quick and easy way to bring fresh content to blog viewers.  In today’s fast paced lifestyles, people place a high priority on convenience.  Having access to multiple sources through their favorite blog is convenient, similar to Walmart’s Supercenter concept of one stop shopping.  This type of blog management helps to build relationships with blog viewers, which will likely encourage them to engage in conversation through posting their comments.

According to Seeby, “The best blogs get lots of comments” (Seeby, n.d., para. 10).  “Blogs actively invite written responses, offering a Comments link to allow readers to agree, disagree or extend the discussion” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108).  Blogs with lots of comments are a testament to the richness of the information being exchanged.  The comments, along with the other elements previously described, are things for which to be on the lookout when reading and evaluating a blog.

Learning to create an effective blog is a process that takes practice.  It involves reading lots of blogs and taking note of what works and what does not work on each one, then applying the learning to my own blog.  Just like any writer, I have something to say and my goal is to write something that others desire to read.

References:

Clay, K. (2011, December 1). Five critical components of a blog post. Lockergnome. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://www.lockergnome.com/social/2011/12/01/five-critical-components-of-a-blog-post/

Marsh, C., Guth, D., & Short, B. (2009). Strategic Writing: Multimedia writing for public relations, advertising and more (2^nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Martin, M. (June 26^th). 7 elements to make your blog look great. Pro Blog Design. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://www.problogdesign.com/design/7-elements-to-make-your-blog-look-great/

Seeby, J. (n.d.). What makes a good blog? Ezinearticles. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Makes-a-Good-Blog?&id=5035914

The Power of Nonverbal Communication

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite quotes involving nonverbal communication, because I believe we all have a responsibility to be aware of the message we are communicating to the world.  What message are you communicating?  Is it the message that you want the world to hear?

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

– St. Francis of Assisi

Excuse me your actions are screaming so loudly I can’t hear a word you’re saying.                                                           – Unknown


Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.
                                                                       - Harold S. Geneen

Deafness and Nonverbal Communication

As a hearing person, it is virtually impossible for me to imagine what it is like to be deaf in a hearing world.  There are so many wonderful sounds that hearing people take for granted that the deaf never have the pleasure of hearing.  Sounds like the wind blowing through the trees, birds singing on a beautiful spring day, the ocean’s waves crashing against the shore, or a warm cozy fire crackling in a fireplace, just to name a few.  When I consider the deaf, I think about how they do not ever experience the joy of singing along to their favorite song and imagining that they are as gifted vocally as the person who recorded it.  They also do not get to experience the emotions that different types of music can stir within the heart of a person.  The beauty of hearing is lost to the deaf, which can leave them feeling isolated and alone.

Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you are a deaf pastor, and you have been invited to a meeting with the head pastor and all the leadership of the church.  When you arrive, there is no interpreter, so there is no way for you to really contribute to the meeting, or understand what is being discussed.  Towards the end of the meeting, someone says, “Let’s pray,” which is the customary way to adjourn a church meeting, and all heads bow while someone prays, leaving you not only unable to hear what is being said, but also unable to see anyone’s lips moving.  It is easy to understand how, after experiences such as this, the deaf feel so isolated and alone and even carry intense anger and hostility toward hearing people.

As I listened to this true life experience recently, my heart broke for the deaf person.  I saw this situation as a form of nonverbal communication with a devastating impact.  Those men were not trying to be rude or alienate their deaf pastor.  In fact, they probably thought they had shown respect by inviting him to the meeting.  They were simply doing what hearing people do—having conversation.  However, their oblivion to their insensitivity was shocking to me, and I recognized even more the necessity for people to be cognizant of their impact on the lives of the people around them. 

As I pondered the situation, it occurred to me that when hearing people walk into a room filled with deaf people who are signing, they assuredly must feel the same type of isolation if they do not know how to sign.  However, I am inclined to think that the deaf may be more apt to do whatever they can to help hearing people feel more included in the group.  I do not know this to be true, but I am inclined in this way because the deaf live with the scars of isolation on a daily basis, making them less likely to want to create isolation for others.  Nevertheless, considering the fact that there are far more hearing people in the world than there are deaf people, I believe that the onus is on the part of the hearing to do more to try and relate to the deaf.  I think the best place to start is to develop empathy for the deaf, which requires learning something about their world view, just as you would when visiting a foreign country.  The video and link below are some resources that speak to the communication challenges for the deaf.

Deaf People Become Hidden in Full View

Virtual Worlds & Intercultural Communication

One of the barriers to effective communication is the propensity toward tunnel vision and failing to truly acknowledge that everyone does not see life through the same lens.  Developing an understanding of the perspective of others breaks down communication barriers that hinder or even prohibit meaningful relationship.  Understanding and empathy are vital elements for effectively communicating with people from different cultures.  Virtual worlds have become a modern day venue through which understanding and empathy toward other cultures can be broadened so that barriers to intercultural communication can be removed.  By leveling the playing field, virtual worlds make it possible to explore different cultures without risking physical safety or judgment and alienation.  However, this growing phenomenon is not without its limitations.

Physical safety would certainly be a concern when visiting countries like Israel, Iran, Iraq and others due to the possibility of terrorist attacks and suicide bombers.  For many, visiting such countries is simply not an option, even though they might possibly like to know and understand more about the various regions.  Still others may be willing to go in spite of the potential dangers to their physical safety, but it is cost prohibitive.  Through virtual worlds and the use of avatars, people can enter into games where they have the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world and learn more about their beliefs and their culture.  Virtual worlds are rife with interaction that enables people to create communities comprised of self-built worlds and avatars centered around common interests, learning or socialization in order to promote information exchange (Harris & Rae, 2009).  Through these self-built worlds, people can virtually experience things that they will likely never experience in real life for fear of losing an arm, a leg, their life, or simply because they cannot financially afford it.

Another risk with intercultural communication is judgment, not only from members of foreign cultures, but sometimes from one’s own friends and family.  Social norms are defined by the culture in which one resides.  It is from these social norms that one’s views and perceptions of other cultures are shaped and molded.  Intercultural communication barriers can arise from preconceived perceptions in the minds of all parties from the moment of introduction to someone from a different culture, particularly if those perceptions are less than favorable.  For example, Americans are considered to be infidels by many in the Middle East.  Conversely, many Americans today have a tendency to be suspicious of individuals from the Middle East because of the devastating events of September 11, 2011.  This mutually negative perception between Americans and Middle Eastern natives will naturally impact the flow of communication between the two.

In the presence of such opposing attitudes toward different cultures, friends and family may become uncomfortable or feel threatened should one of their own choose to befriend someone from a perceived unfavorable culture, which could cause them to judge and alienate their friend or family member.  The fear of judgment and alienation from friends and family can cause people to totally abandon any thoughts of trying to build a bridge between other cultures, which keeps the current system of “us and them” fully established.  Virtual worlds remove the fear of being shunned or ostracized.  Although each player enters the game with their own preconceived perceptions, they are free to ask questions and exchange information that can dispel those perceptions, thereby building a bridge for open dialogue between cultures.  “Some say they open up in ways they never would in face-to-face encounters in real support groups, therapy sessions, or even with family and close friends in their true lives” (Stein, 2007).

While virtual worlds have opened a door of almost limitless possibilities with regard to learning and information exchange, they do still have their limitations. In order for the exchange of information to successfully improve intercultural communication, the participants must be willing to actually relinquish preconceptions about other cultures and become open to a broader understanding, something that can only be controlled by the participants themselves.  No one can force another person to be open and allow their mind to be changed.

There is also the issue of cost for the implementation of virtual world applications as an educational tool.  With more and more businesses establishing offices overseas, the ability to teach intercultural communication through virtual worlds could prove to be very beneficial; however, the costs involved with upgrading computer systems, as well as the time and money required to train instructors on how to use the virtual world applications is currently a stumbling block.  “Virtual worlds have yet to reach their optimum usability, accessibility and richness of experience because of technological limitations and relatively high development costs” (Wortley, 2009).  The good news is these hurdles can be overcome with time, which makes the long-term future of virtual worlds very promising.

The starting point for effective communication is a greater understanding of the one with whom you are communicating, whether it is with an individual, a small group or a nation.  The advancement of computerized technology has in effect shrunk our world.  Never in the history of mankind has the need for effective intercultural communication been so great.  Virtual worlds, although still in their infancy stage, make it possible to go where those who have gone before us were unable to go.  Information can be exchanged, lives can be touched and bridges between cultures can be built in real time with the simple click of a mouse.  Virtual worlds may still have some limitations; however, the limitations pale in comparison to the benefits.

References:

Harris, A., & Rea, A. (2009). Web 2.0 and virtual world technologies: A growing impact on IS education. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20(2), 137-144.  Retrieved August 14, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1755224731).

Stein, R. (2007, October 6). Real hope in a virtual world: Online identities leave limitations behind. The Washington Post. Retrieved on August 14, 2011 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/10/05/ST2007100502446.html?hpid=artslot

Wortley, D.  (2009, September). Virtual barriers will crumble. The Times Higher Education Supplement:THE, (1913), 28. Retrieved August 14, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2175206931).