Platitude of the Week
Realizing that the CD blog sometimes languishes without new material, and acknowledging that people far and wide visit our site expecting to be impressed and challenged, we decided today to implement some regular new features on the blog:
Platitude of the Week - some Christian cliche we've heard recently that needs to be excised from people's vocabulary
Hannah-isms - witty one-liners from Dr. John Hannah, in preparation for next spring's conference
Culture Feature - everything from news items to Kendal's observations about Omaha culture
Troubling Things - things that, in general, simply trouble us
I have the privilege of launching these new initiatives by posting the first installment of the Platitude of the Week. Here it is:
Usually paired (in Christian subculture lingo) with the prepositional phrase "out of," as in, "I need to get out of my comfort zone." For added emphasis, insert "really," as in, "We really need to get out of our comfort zones."
Let's face it: this phrase has reached its usable life. It is trite and vapid. What does it even mean? It used to mean, "I need to move outside of the zone or range in which I feel comfortable." Now, it means, "I need a Christian cliche which will allow me to verbally commit to something while making no change in my actual life, and which, when stated, will cause everyone in the room to nod and feel like I've said something actually comprehensible and honest."
I wish I could say that Coram Deo is devoid of this over-used phrase, but alas, nothing could be further from the truth. I have personally witnessed its use in three different settings this past week.
Is there anyone out there who will come to the defense of this hackneyed piece of verbiage, or is the plain truth of my argument enough to secure its universal demise?
Platitude of the Week - some Christian cliche we've heard recently that needs to be excised from people's vocabulary
Hannah-isms - witty one-liners from Dr. John Hannah, in preparation for next spring's conference
Culture Feature - everything from news items to Kendal's observations about Omaha culture
Troubling Things - things that, in general, simply trouble us
I have the privilege of launching these new initiatives by posting the first installment of the Platitude of the Week. Here it is:
"comfort zone"
Usually paired (in Christian subculture lingo) with the prepositional phrase "out of," as in, "I need to get out of my comfort zone." For added emphasis, insert "really," as in, "We really need to get out of our comfort zones."
Let's face it: this phrase has reached its usable life. It is trite and vapid. What does it even mean? It used to mean, "I need to move outside of the zone or range in which I feel comfortable." Now, it means, "I need a Christian cliche which will allow me to verbally commit to something while making no change in my actual life, and which, when stated, will cause everyone in the room to nod and feel like I've said something actually comprehensible and honest."
I wish I could say that Coram Deo is devoid of this over-used phrase, but alas, nothing could be further from the truth. I have personally witnessed its use in three different settings this past week.
Is there anyone out there who will come to the defense of this hackneyed piece of verbiage, or is the plain truth of my argument enough to secure its universal demise?
posted by Bob | 4:03 PM
13 Comments:
i cannot wait until we hear about the use of the terms 'tension' and 'lenses'
-rick
I totally agree. I wish people would replace the phrase with something more specific, but unfortunately, it is often used to cover the fact that either people have no idea of a practical step to take, or they don't like the options they have thought of. But isn't that always the problem, whether we use the cliche or not - moving from good intentions into action?
And as fellow believers, I would think our call to each other should also include gently, lovingly encouraging people to move past the cliche. When it is used next, ask "What exactly do you mean by that?" and see what they come up with.
I know that my bed has two comfort zones. . . but, in a very un-Christian way, I choose to stay in each. :)
Aaron
i think i like squarepeg's approach, that is inquiring about the import of the phrase. i have only noticed a couple of people using that phrase in the vapid manner of which you speak. I see most people speak of leaving comfort legitimately, which indicates to me that there is still some utility in the phrase. but your point is well taken that this phrase could be a starting point for delving into specific application.
if you must replace it, you could utilize nouwen's language of voluntary displacement (see Compassion - or ask will and kendal, i think they actually liked that chapter). With this he calls for christians to radically leave the natural and comfortable places, just as christ, though he was rich, became poor for our sake.
on another note, i sort of agree with rick about tension and lenses (and i would add DNA, grid, and unpack). Though these words aren't yet entirely devoid of meaning, they are certainly tired and cliche.
derrick
I've been bugged by that phrase for a while. Thank you.
As an aside, I don't know if "comfort zone" was invented in Christian circles or not, but a few months ago, I heard a secular businessman say it. Either it's so played out in Christian Culture that others are saying it now, or it is yet another tired rip-off of pop culture. Either way, it's time to put it away.
This whole conversation makes me a bit uncomfortable. I'm going to have to ask you to get out of my comfort zone. Thank you.
DNA, grid, tension, unpack, and lenses are all words that definitely fall within my comfort zone. At this point I am unwilling to voluntarily displace myself from their frequent usage.
Bob,
you need a paradigm shift.
Aaron
bob,
nice.
derrick
It doesn't take long for a good idea to become an empty cliche. The idea behind "getting out of one's comfort zone" is still a good idea, so I'm not sure that totally discarding the terminology is a very effective solution. It might be a good idea, but how long is the substituted and freshly defined alternative going to last before it assumes the same function. That's why I like squarepeg's suggestion to press for specifics.
(I don't, however, like their screenname. What does it mean? Is it a reference to another empty aphorism or a dirty joke? Do I know this person by a real name in real life?)
Micah, it is an idiom! Also a TV show from the early 80's (yes before you and I were born). It means she (assuming she is a she, but definitely could be a he) feels out of place in their current surroundings. Also (if referring to the TV show) one could take it that square peg in a round hole is comparing them self to Sarah Jessica Parkers' character...a high school freshman, trying to fit in. Get with the times yo!
I also like Square Pegs idea. Although saying one needs to "get out of their comfort zone" is not a bad idea, we need to probe what people are talking about. If we do not probe them for more information we are letting them stay in their comfort zone and not challenging them. Good call Square Peg!
Bekah
I agree that the phrase "comfort zone" is a total buzz phrase. But in thinking about the term, when i use it to describe myself, it is more to describe a fault or sin in my life: "Volunteering is not within my comfort zone, and so i don't want to do it." but even then, it feels more as justification, then motivation. but if someone else were to say to me, Lisa, you just don't like it, cause it's outside your comfort zone, I think I would look at that as a personal challenge.. and make it part of my comfort zone :) so.. I guess for me, it's all about the context. ~~ Lisa
I read an essay a few years ago by Percy Shelly, a poet in the 19th Cent, who was defending the latest literary movement. He said that the job of the poet is revive a generation's tired metaphors, "to create afresh the associations that have been disassociated", or something like that. As it happens, April is National Poetry Month....
Bob, you may be right about this phrase, but where is your suggestion? You don't want to be the kind of blog master that critiques and never creates, do you?
As a little kid, if someone was messing with my comfort zone, then I would say "she need to get outta my bathtub." Just a suggestion. (Judith can fill you in if you need a backstory, rules of usage, etc.)
Evan Freemyer
Post a Comment
<< Home