"...There are four possible attitudes, said Jones, to the herd
urge. We can 1) withdraw from the herd
2) defy the herd 3) succumb to the herd or 4) surrender the herd to God and
then live within it..."
By the Rev. Dr. Ed
Hird
Every summer the Hird family goes away on an Ashram retreat
to Sumas Mountain. The Christian Ashram
movement was founded in 1930 by Dr. E. Stanley Jones in India. As a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, Jones
wrote twenty-eight books that sold millions, including Christ of the Indian Road and Abundant
Living.
As the most widely read spiritual author during his lifetime, Jones
left a remarkable impact that is rapidly increasing in our social media
world. Jones’ short aphorisms are very
quotable, being often reposted on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and
Pinterest.
For the last year, I have been rereading Jones’ book The Way to Power and Poise. Jones
memorably warns us against the herd: “If we are herd-centered people, then we
are insecure, for the herd is fickle and may quickly change.” Teenagers, when facing peer pressure, are
often tempted to be herd-centered. When
we give up self to the herd, we lose identity, focus and creativity. The desire to be popular and to fit in can be
very deadly. It takes courage to be
ourselves. Jones taught that if we are
dominated by the herd, we are doomed by the herd – doomed to a life of up and
downness.
The problem with the first attitude of withdrawal is that we
are left in isolation and eccentricity.
All forms of separation, segregation or apartheid backfire upon
themselves. Emotional cut-off solves
nothing. We are called to be in the herd
but not of the herd.
The second attitude of defying the herd leaves us on the
defensive. As Jones put it, you cannot
live constantly objecting without becoming objectionable. Defensiveness is negative and self-defeating.
Healthy people do not define themselves
by what they are opposed to.
The third attitude of succumbing to the herd, said Jones,
robs you of your voice: “you are an echo; you don’t act; you only react; you
are not a person but a thing.” Mindless
conforming is ultimately deforming. Giving
up self to the herd leaves us flat and empty.
Mob mentality, as with the 2011 Vancouver Canuck riot, is rooted in the
herd mentality. Many young people going to that Canuck game had no idea how
destructive they would become.
Only when we let go and let God can the herd become
healthy. The herd will drain you of life
and energy, if you let it. The herd is
never satisfied. You can never do enough
to please the herd. Jesus gives you the
ability to transform the herd into a thing of beauty. Say no to the herd, and yes to life.
The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, Rector
BSW, MDiv, DMin
Anglican Mission in Canada
-author of the upcoming book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit
p.s. In order to obtain a copy of the book ‘Battle for the Soul of Canada’, please send a $18.50 cheque to ‘ED HIRD’, #1008-555 West 28th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7N 2J7. For mailing the book to the USA, please send $20.00 USD. This can also be done by 
2 comments:
So true.
Ed, I *heard* myself agreeing with "Yes, yes! Praise God!" :)
Thanks for sharing this clear and important message and E. S. Jones's insights. ~~+~~
Thanks so much, Peter. You are such an encourager. :)
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