I met yet another pastor who proudly introduced himself as a “Blink Guy” this week. I think that makes four now.
What’s a Blink guy? It’s a person who has read “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell and has decided to approach life making instant judgements and decisions. Hmmm … thinking without thinking?
Amazon summarizes the book this way:
Blink is about the first two seconds of looking–the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell, the best-selling author of The Tipping Point, campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into splendid storytelling. Building his case with scenes from a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course, selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small and focus on the meaning of “thin slices” of behavior. The key is to rely on our “adaptive unconscious”–a 24/7 mental valet–that provides us with instant and sophisticated information to warn of danger, read a stranger, or react to a new idea.
Um, I’m not a blinker. I’m a wait on the Lord guy. I guess the thing that surprises me is the number of pastors who are proudly presenting themselves as “blinkers.” I just don’t see it in scripture.
I’d like to hear the rationale from blinkers. How do you read scripture, with it’s numerous references to counting the cost, waiting patiently on the Lord, numbering the troops before battle, praying and fasting and instead choose snap judgments and going on your hunches?
Help me out here. I just don’t get it.
Drinking from the Same Dipper 
I am a fan of Malcolm Gladwell. I read everything he writes. He is a thinker that is able to look at things from a new angle. That being said, I am also a pastor. In Blink the idea is to trust your gut, your intuition, rather than analytical thought, especially when evaluating something.
As a pastor I am sure your antenna are tuned in to the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and around you and the lives of the people you minister to. Be aware and attentive to how the Holy Spirit is at work. This is how I apply the concepts of Blink into my life.
Rev Rob
In two of the cases, I found the blinkers to be very weak leaders with lots of turmoil in their ministries.
I am a believer in discernment and the Holy Spirit leading but am not too fond of the trend of the blinkers I know who feel they need not collect any data before making hasty decisions.
I’ve also found blinkers to be very susceptible to sales pitches. (granted, I have only known 4)