12) They pay inadequate attention to decisions regarding time limitations. This may lead to increased pressure on some participants to unconsciously "fabricate" a cure.
There are three components here:
- how time is handled
- resulting pressure on participants
- "fabricate a cure"
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| Don't apply on The Crucible Weekend |
There is adequate attention to time limitations; there is also intention regarding time limitations. As I've blogged before, time on The Crucible Weekend is handled differently than most of our daily lives. First, the attention part. We know for sure the start time of the weekend; the finish time is a range. During the course of the weekend, staff know what time it is, and a range of time we *expect* things to take, based on experience. I've staffed a few times, and each piece may take more or less time than it did on a different weekend--and that is okay. The goal is men getting what they came for, not a metric like on time arrival. God has His own timeline, and I'm praying for & counting on Him to show up on the weekend.
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| Lots of this on The Crucible Weekend |
Now for the intention part. The handling of time, and managing to an objective other than time, are by thoughtful, prayerful design. The schedule isn't published because the weekend is an experiential weekend, not a lecture or a train schedule. I mentioned variability above. This isn't a business meeting; exercises build on each other and the time required is the time required.
The weekend is managed by objective, not the clock: when men get what they need, the weekend moves on.
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| This is NOT The Crucible Weekend! |
Because there is no published schedule, and because in many ways we're off the grid, there is *not* time pressure on participants. We're all away for the weekend, and the outside world will go on just fine for a few days. When was the last time you unplugged from your phone, email, calendar, to-do list? Jeez, it is cathartic to just write that sentence! With all of those distractions removed, it is much easier for me to be present in the moment, wherever I am. The weekend is designed to provide this freedom, and I argue there is no time pressure on participants.
Fabrication And The Cure
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| The Crucible Weekend Doesn't Peddle Cures |
The intent isn't for participants to fabricate anything on the weekend. The standard is to get about the business of honesty & integrity, not making things up. Given the amount of prayer, preparation, & intention involved on the weekend, I have seen the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit in numerous ways--not the fabrications of men under time pressure.
As for the cure... There is no language about "cure" on the TCP site. This isn't a therapy group, it isn't a bunch of guys running around telling other men how to fix their lives. I blogged earlier about the goals of the weekend, which you can read on the TCP site here. I certainly haven't seen anyone fabricate a "cure" like some medieval alchemist. I have seen and heard men talk about how the Great Physician showed up on the weekend in powerful and often unexpected ways. I have heard talk of healing, restoration, etc.--but not cure. That is okay, by design, and further proof that TCP isn't peddling snake oil.
