Annoying

Lessons from the chalkboard and how NOT to be annoying

Allow me to date myself and share a short physics lesson. Anyone remember the days of chalk and chalkboards?  Checkout your local museum if it doesn’t register.  Here, though, is a little known bit of chalk-trivia.  According to the book “The Flying Circus of Physics (With Answers)”for those who have used chalk, there is a phenomena call ‘squeaking chalk’.  The noise results from an action called ‘stick and slip’.  Incorrectly held chalk actually sticks to the blackboard when pressure is applied.  When a writer angles the chalk just enough, it suddenly slips and vibrates, sporadically striking the chalkboard and produces that pyscho-accustic, nail-scratching, squeaking noise.  Fortunately as the vibration decreases, the friction between the chalk and the board increases until the perpetrator stops writing and the readers (and listeners) sit with palpable terror should the writing have to continue and the squeaking noise begin again.

Know any people like that? Real squawkers, screechers, annoyances?  Perhaps customers or co-workers or bosses.  The mere announcement of their presence stokes your blood pressure and sets your teeth on edge.  Annoyyyying!    

Thanks to digital media, chalk has mostly gone away  But the customer or co-worker…well, they just might need-be around longer.  I’m still constructing crucial conversations to have with annoying squawkers but one proven anecdote is quite simple: don’t become that kind of person!

If you’re considering a BHAGG for 2024, take a look at the life and leadership of Jesus. 

He wasn’t arrogant, annoying, or boastful.  Luke 6:27-31.   He was magnanimously followed because he evoked a controlled intensity, a power under control (meekness).  He accepted that He was under authority and demonstrated it appropriately.  

Also Jesus never sought to take credit or garner attention.  His aim was not front-and-center-stage although when forced upon him, he handled it humbly and with authority.  Even in His most up-front episodes, Jesus never took credit to himself; he deferred credit (glory) to the Father.  

One final lesson from Jesus stands out.  He was faced with the most annoying, ego-centric, squawkers of His day and yet, he demonstrated exemplary restraint.  He modeled the Sage’s wisdom that ‘a fool shows his annoyance at once but a wise man overlooks an insult.  

While many more lessons could be added to this list, If we but put these in practice I believe we would be doing our part to depopulate the last vestiges of inappropriate chalk use in 2024.  Hope you’ll do your part.