Thoughts from Paul Hill

All brain processing, thinking, learning, and human interaction goes through the same sequenced system every time. Call it the “arousal/alert system” (or the Four F’s and Four A’s system). Early humans who didn’t have this system just didn’t make it.

Significantly, a small part of the mid-brain called the amygdala plays a huge role. The amygdala can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Here’s how it all works.

When activated the amygdala will perform one of four functions: fight, flight, flow, or fornicate (The Four F’s…and don’t go there ). Three of the four are self-explanatory, but flow has to do with staying calm and being receptive. All Christians want to strive for “flow”, at least in public settings.

Working primarily (but not exclusively) through our vision the “arousal/alert system” follows this sequence:

1) Upon seeing something the image stimulates “awareness” and the brain asks, “Wassup?” 2) Now “alert” the brain then asks “”Should I care wassup?” 3) In order to answer that question it pulls from memory, feelings, experiences and “assesses” what to do. It asks, “What do I know about “wassup?” 4) Finally it creates an “action” by concluding, “Based upon ‘wassup’ this is what I am going to do.” You may then laugh, cry, run, hit something, duck, or-shall I say-get imaginative.  In junior highers this “Four A’s” process seems accelerated.  Rarely do you see flow.

So think about it. If human brains do this all the time, then Christian communities should be places of enormous hospitality and caring conversation. They create “flow” and people are receptive, relaxed, non-defensive and open. Flow is the prelude to belonging, and belonging is the prelude to faith formation and faith practices.

The early Christians were known for their hospitality in a brutal and unforgiving world.  It made a difference.  They knew intuitively what brain science can now document: “Go with the Flow!”