Consider Your Background

Yesterday, while participating in a writers Zoom conference, I considered whether to let my background show. Zoom allows you to blur or replace the image with something of your choice. As I thought about what to do, I looked at the pictures of others who were not afraid of their background. Either that or they were unaware of what they were sharing.

I learn a lot about others from the backgrounds they share.
You can learn a lot about me in the same way.
Before you point out mine, consider your own.

Our baggage is often our comfort zone. It’s open to anyone who wants to take a moment and consider what they are experiencing. You may see my background, but you will never know the clutter I’m comfortable with on my desktop. (Well, the dining table because of some unique situations.)

What did I witness?

I watched people eating from a bowl, and then they finished it off by drinking the remnants. That’s okay. I’m comfortable with cereal and soup the same way. My bowl becomes a giant coffee cup! Someone walked on frame in what I can only assume was underwear. Another person was walking on a treadmill while in attendance – and I wished I could do that! Some had children to care for, and we met them in that space! In today’s work-from-home world, there have been many such bonding moments. A few had most of their face masked by the bottom frame of their camera – afraid to make a whole appearance? Some had only a still image to share, while others kept their cameras turned off.

This Brings Me To My Thought

Life is replete with a background that shows a bit of who we are, the clutter we tolerate, and maybe even some private details we wish others did not know. When you participate in a conference or call, you show strangers something about your life—reading habits, collectibles, are we stylish, or is life a dump? Standing, sitting, reclining, or not even looking into the camera because you have to watch the screen. Distractions. Facial Expressions. External noise (thankful most are muted!)

I recently started following an artist in Georgia who does some amazing landscapes. I’m mesmerized by her talent in action, but we only see her in clean surroundings, and her makeup is never smeared nor paint-splattered. She cleans up good for the camera!

But that’s not everyone! Before turning on my camera for the Zoom conference, I had to comb my hair, brush my teeth, and make sure my shirt met my standards of being in a “public space.” Whoa! I need to shave!

On another front, I think we would all be disappointed to meet someone famous. Their persona on camera is often an image they project to the public and not the actual person they are. Their background space is probably camouflaged, hidden in plain sight.

Follow someone long enough,
and their background replaces the foreground.
Hello to reality.

In one web conference a few years ago, we were warned the speaker has no limitations on their words. Expect anything. After about 5 minutes, I exited the conference. Foul language. Innuendoes. No volume control. Looking at their background, I learned that I would never be able to glean anything of value because my language standards are different. If you cannot speak without offending, you are only talking to those immune to offense. That makes me wonder about the audience.

Take Control

We’ve adapted to an online presence in more ways than one through this pandemic.

Work has no commute space, so you can sleep in and stagger to the computer without the benefit of presenting yourselves to the world in a way your grandmother would be proud of.

Church services have moved to an online presence, and you can participate as if you are attending a movie. Popcorn, anyone? We’ve adapted to watching instead of participating. We are dressing in our grungiest instead of attempting to dress up for God’s house.

Perhaps we’ve found ourselves exposed to our background nature if we’ve learned anything. Maybe that’s our true nature. We masked ourselves for life out there, and now that life enters our parlor, we don’t care if others see the natural person we are at home.

Part of our problem may be that we do not work on getting presentable for the world out there. Take it or leave it. We present ourselves for others to see, judge, like, or dislike. Distractions are quickly apparent to the other side of the camera when it’s only you in the picture and not masked by a crowd of co-workers or fellow attendees.

Personality quirks show up. Can you handle the technology challenge? How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Are you prepared for the moment, or do you search your files for the correct piece of data to share? Can you focus on your screen the entire time, or do you need distractions at times to keep your sanity?

Paul

A phrase in the New Testament is only found six times, but it’s translated to English in several ways. The Greek word is νόημα and is transliterated as noēma and pronounced as no’-ay-mah. Translated as “thought, mind, devices.” That last one is associated with Satan, not you, me, or God. Paul uses this word five times to the church in Corinth and once to Philippi.

One of my favorite verses from Paul is found with this word in use: (Emphasis Mine)

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV

There is a process of life that allows things to be (noēma) what is the content of our mind, thought, or the devices we use to decide how to handle something.

But how do we get to this summation?

The word noēma comes from noy-eh’-o (noieō)and relates to the process of exercising our minds. Observe. Comprehend. Heed. Consider. Think. Understand. This word is used 14 times, even by Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and John. Paul uses it five times in other epistles.

By exercising our mind (noieō), we start thinking actively, thinking it through, looking at the issue from other angles and then coming up with how we see it. From this action, we set our minds.

Can I give you some insight? This is one reason I blog and why my tag line is: “Making Sense of Life, One Thought at a Time.” My focus is not to be stuck with where I am but focusing on making life better.

Maybe this is where we are with the background of our lives. Once our minds are established, we seldom think about it again, especially from the perspective of others. It’s time to rethink, retool, restore, and return. That requires you to exercise your mind. Change your perspective. Let’s see our background as others see and work on creating a better perspective to live in this modern world.