Don’t “Find Your Passion,” the Regrets of 90-somethings, & Legalizing Marijuana

Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” While we do not always agree with everything these authors post, we share these resources because we find them challenging and enriching. As we often say around the Summit, when it comes to reading, “Eat the fish and spit out the bones.”

Articles of the Week

The Age of Terrorism Meets the Era of the Troll, Joe Carter. “It is not uncommon for terrorists to release a rambling, barely coherent manifesto. And it is usually wise to ignore them, since they only feed the murderer’s desire for attention. But the document left by the New Zealand shooter (whom I will not name) is worth examining, because it gives us insight into a new type of terrorist—the terrorist as troll. The New Zealand shooter is an extreme example of an increasingly common disaffected person—mostly young men—whose worldview is shaped largely by an evil online culture. Here are six characteristics of these ‘trolls.’”

What Do 90-Somethings Regret Most? Lydia Sohn. Sohn interviewed the oldest people she knows, asking them what regrets they had about their lives. Their responses reveal a lot about life, contradicting many of the assumptions we have about old age, happiness, and love.

Who Would Legalizing Marijuana Hurt? Dan Trippie. Perhaps it’s not a live discussion in your part of the world. Perhaps it is. But the question of legalizing marijuana is much more prevalent today than it was just a decade ago. Most Christians feel ill equipped to address the issue. Many wonder, “Well, I wouldn’t use marijuana, but who would it hurt if it were legal?” Trippie’s answer: It would hurt the most vulnerable among us.

How Much Leisure Time Do the Happiest People Have? Joe Pinsker. Chances are, you don’t think you have enough leisure time. You imagine that the truly blessed life—the one with rainbows and daffodils—is probably characterized by unlimited free time. Freedom to do whatever I want whenever I want? Seems like a recipe for boundless joy. But studies show that’s not exactly right. So what exactly is the magic number for leisure time?

“Find Your Passion” Is Awful Advice, Olga Khazan. This is an interesting discussion on why our passions are developed over time, not fixed from birth. Those who understand this end up finding more meaning in their work. (If you like this article, and you’re looking for more, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert’s Gospel at Work is a fantastic resource.)

On the Lighter Side

Ranking the 9 Toughest Leadership Roles, Rob Asghar. So you think your job is tough? Well, have a gander and see if Asghar agrees. Come for the catchy title, stay for the sassy one-liners.