this is a public service announcement. we have had too much bad news since wed night. we do not appreciate any more. thank you.

No one whose hope is in you
Will ever be put to shame
That’s why my eyes are on you O Lord
Surround me, defend me
Oh how I need You
To You I lift up my soul
To You I lift up my soul

(to you o Lord, grahamkendrick)

recently, random people have been proffering (occassionally uninvited) thoughts about what they think research is. or more precisely, who they think researchers are. most think researchers are socially awkard introverts who speak to themselves and when talking to other people only talk about their research project. welcome to the world of bipolar, socially dysfunctional and hedonistic creatures.

so while everyone has their thoughts on how nerdy/geeky/completelywierdedout people researchers are, maybe thinking about what research is could be a better starting point. the paragraph i just read (from a Human geography journal no less) was a much-needed shot in the arm and is worth quoting at length. it is about the role of methodology in human geography.

“Just what is a Christian Methodology? Our conclusion will not satisfy everyone, but it is essentially that Christian integrity and principles should exert an influence at every stage of the research process: recognising topics worth of study, formulating questions, gathering information, theorising and making a contribution to the transformation of geography and society. … By a process of critical engagement with real world situations and the philosophies which underlie them and their study, Christians in geography are contending for a recognition that Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxis are viable sources of normative knowledge for the conduct  and analysis of human life” (Clark, 1991: 342-343).

Dear Clark, in a time where changing topics is highly seductive because the other project brings in the recognition and this topic just makes me frustrated with the churches, thank you for reminding me that there is method in the madness. it is not some method. it is the method. love, the sociallyawkwardbipolarhedonist.