I keep coming back to this book called the “Culture Code” by world famous marketing guru, Clotaire Rapaille. The premise of the book is this… within every culture there is an unconscious code as to why people want what they want. Moving past reason, emotions and getting to the place of their “reptilian heart button” is what he describes as cracking the code of a particular culture.
I must say, the way American culture is described in this book is quite spot on. He asks questions like….Why do Americans feel the need to drive a Hummer to go shopping, are we going off-road? Why do we work a minimum of 40 hours a week? Why do we never take any time off?
He states the great philosopher of American is NIKE. “Just do it,” is the code of America, It doesn’t matter if you know what you’re doing, just do it because in American, action is salvation and procrastination is sin.
He says overall, American culture is an adolescent culture. Meaning, that the idea of following through and submission are ideas extremely hard to embrace. We can move on, we can leave it behind if we don’t like it.
I’m not sure where Rapaille is on the issues of faith etc. but I do believe he’s making some brilliant points about the culture in which we live. In thinking through some of his statements, it’s caused me to think through my life and the way in which I live it.
My Pick and Mix theology and methodology…… Do I feel entitled to pull from various resources that don’t know me personally so I don’t have to deal with the challenge of personal disagreement in method or wrestle with the hard issues of God in life?
The invitation will always be there to extract as much as I want with my face buried in a book or screen. But the moment I feel challenged or have to submit to something that’s unknown to me, I digress….am I really a leader or have I surrounded myself with people who just like me and my gift?
Do I want invitation without challenge that enables me to remain cozy or do I embrace the challenge thats tilling the soil of my heart?
Father give me the faith to see that submission turns into celebration for those who persevere and abide in the beat of your heart. In your presence is where I want to be.