Bob the Builder and the Free Will Debate

In Dan Pink's book To Sell is Human, he references the cartoon character Bob the Builder as a helpful resource when it comes to overcoming a problem.  Pink argues that instead of deflating talk ("I can't do this" or "This project is too hard") or inflating talk ("I am the best at this" or "I was made for this problem") to instead approach problems with Bob the Builder's approach- "can we fix it?".

My kids used to love Bob the Builder (and sadly are now too old for this kid's cartoon) and every episode Bob and the gang are confronted with a problem- a home to fix, a road to build- and they always ask "can we fix it?".  Pink argues that this interrogative approach is better than self defeat or self confidence because it allows you and I the opportunity to consider the problem and then go about mapping a plan.  In the cartoons, the question is always met with a "yes we can!", which would certainly fall into the inflating talk category, but Pink's point is that the asking of the question, the pausing and the considering, allow us the opportunity to devise a plan and go about solving the problem.

Beyond the obvious applications to a person's home or work environments, though, is the theological perspective beyond Bob the Builder.  When I teach ethics or talk with a Christian, it isn't long until we begin tackling the question of humanity and free will.  How free are we to make our choices?  How determined is my life?  How much does God control and how much room do we have to freely operate?

There's obviously lots of different and acceptable answers to these questions (which are beyond the scope of this blog!), but what always strikes me is how a free will perspective better aligns with Bob the Builder and the "yes we can" perspective.  If you believe you are free to make your own choices, you're more likely to emulate Bob the Builder.