Thursday, April 10, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Conversation with Chris Pervis at Common Grounds
Chris says she and Jack always liked the UCC organizations overseas. You make friends. If your friend is interested in your other friend Jesus, you introduce them. Then you stay the heck out of the way.
She regrets thinking that problems have to be solved. Some problems have to be lived with, she says.
Too may times she was the person who got stuff done, who solved the problems, but sometimes she didn't care who she ran over in the process.
She wonders who she hurt in the quest to solve.
Don't push people. Don't stomp on people to solve problems. What other people do to solve their own problems need be none of your concern.
Chris highly recommends the book Go to Africa, Save Your Marriage.
She regrets thinking that problems have to be solved. Some problems have to be lived with, she says.
Too may times she was the person who got stuff done, who solved the problems, but sometimes she didn't care who she ran over in the process.
She wonders who she hurt in the quest to solve.
Don't push people. Don't stomp on people to solve problems. What other people do to solve their own problems need be none of your concern.
Chris highly recommends the book Go to Africa, Save Your Marriage.
Conversation with Dick McGarrety and Morey's
why do we need to grow, Dick? what is all this nonsense about how if we don't grow, we lose, we die? -Wendy
and I paraphrase
Because growth maintains demographics. people die and are replaced, but they are replaced at a faster rate than they die. the world is growing, populations are growing, industry, growing at such a rate, that to stand still is to fall behind. there is contraction and expansion, but the expansion is going more ferociously.
But, Dick, there has to be an end. resources come to an end. projects come to an end. -Wendy
Yes, there is always an end. There are circles, ripples of expansion going out and eventually they touch the borders of other projects, competitors, new realities, and their expansion stops and eventually they disappear. the whole time there are ripples going both ways, in and out, yet the out reaches beyond the borders until the borders touch the end, the other borders.
what happens when we hit that "end" and shouldn't we be trying to predict it, even control it? what would happen if we choose it ahead of time and build our reality around the control of growth? maybe that would be more sustainable. -Wendy
You know, many people have tried to do that. its called utopia. people try to predict and control the future to create the best possible long term experience for future generations. what happens is you just can't always predict how people will want to live, will choose to live as time goes by. whenever you have people trying to make "the best" decisions for future people, there is usually trouble and disagreement. it has to be a more organic process.
and I paraphrase
Because growth maintains demographics. people die and are replaced, but they are replaced at a faster rate than they die. the world is growing, populations are growing, industry, growing at such a rate, that to stand still is to fall behind. there is contraction and expansion, but the expansion is going more ferociously.
But, Dick, there has to be an end. resources come to an end. projects come to an end. -Wendy
Yes, there is always an end. There are circles, ripples of expansion going out and eventually they touch the borders of other projects, competitors, new realities, and their expansion stops and eventually they disappear. the whole time there are ripples going both ways, in and out, yet the out reaches beyond the borders until the borders touch the end, the other borders.
what happens when we hit that "end" and shouldn't we be trying to predict it, even control it? what would happen if we choose it ahead of time and build our reality around the control of growth? maybe that would be more sustainable. -Wendy
You know, many people have tried to do that. its called utopia. people try to predict and control the future to create the best possible long term experience for future generations. what happens is you just can't always predict how people will want to live, will choose to live as time goes by. whenever you have people trying to make "the best" decisions for future people, there is usually trouble and disagreement. it has to be a more organic process.
STILLNESS AND SORBET
By Michael A. Halleen
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Fine restaurants have the right idea. After each course, they serve a small sorbet, something to clear the palate. It is a timeout, a minute or two to let go slowly of what has been and to allow the tongue--and mind--to prepare for the pleasures to come. Too often we live at a fast food pace, moving from one experience to another without reflection, from one encounter to the next without clearing the head. Our lives need more sorbets.
It is in those in-between times that we can put things in perspective, reflect on what has occurred, let the flavors subside before moving on to the next course. I encourage my business clients to take time to celebrate, if only for a minute, a victory of the past week, congratulate one another and consider what contributed to that success, however small. We benefit from contemplating for a moment the conversation we have had before rushing ahead to the next call. And we gain something by allowing ourselves to acknowledge a mistake or missed opportunity, even to feel the pain of a loss, before plunging into the next minute of the day-or phase of life.
Some monastic orders, I am told, have a practice called statio. It means they stop one thing before beginning another. Rather than rush from one activity to the next, they pause and recognize this time between the times. It is an idea which I try to communicate to churches I serve as an interim minister. The gap between pastor leaders can be a beneficial time of reflection and refreshment for a congregation. The Psalm writer suggests that it is in pauses--stillness--that we recognize the reality of God's presence, both in what has passed and in what is yet to come.
The father of cellist Yo-Yo Ma lived in Paris during World War II, holed up alone in a garret during the years of German occupation. In order to restore sanity to his world, he practiced violin pieces by Bach during the day, and through the long night hours of blackout, he played them again in the dark from memory. His son Yo-Yo took up his father's advice to play a Bach suite from memory every night before going to bed. "It isn't practicing," he says, "it's contemplating. You're alone with your soul."
Sorbet...statio...Bach suite. Stop for a moment. Experience stillness. God is there.
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Fine restaurants have the right idea. After each course, they serve a small sorbet, something to clear the palate. It is a timeout, a minute or two to let go slowly of what has been and to allow the tongue--and mind--to prepare for the pleasures to come. Too often we live at a fast food pace, moving from one experience to another without reflection, from one encounter to the next without clearing the head. Our lives need more sorbets.
It is in those in-between times that we can put things in perspective, reflect on what has occurred, let the flavors subside before moving on to the next course. I encourage my business clients to take time to celebrate, if only for a minute, a victory of the past week, congratulate one another and consider what contributed to that success, however small. We benefit from contemplating for a moment the conversation we have had before rushing ahead to the next call. And we gain something by allowing ourselves to acknowledge a mistake or missed opportunity, even to feel the pain of a loss, before plunging into the next minute of the day-or phase of life.
Some monastic orders, I am told, have a practice called statio. It means they stop one thing before beginning another. Rather than rush from one activity to the next, they pause and recognize this time between the times. It is an idea which I try to communicate to churches I serve as an interim minister. The gap between pastor leaders can be a beneficial time of reflection and refreshment for a congregation. The Psalm writer suggests that it is in pauses--stillness--that we recognize the reality of God's presence, both in what has passed and in what is yet to come.
The father of cellist Yo-Yo Ma lived in Paris during World War II, holed up alone in a garret during the years of German occupation. In order to restore sanity to his world, he practiced violin pieces by Bach during the day, and through the long night hours of blackout, he played them again in the dark from memory. His son Yo-Yo took up his father's advice to play a Bach suite from memory every night before going to bed. "It isn't practicing," he says, "it's contemplating. You're alone with your soul."
Sorbet...statio...Bach suite. Stop for a moment. Experience stillness. God is there.
The 10 Standards of Fair Trade
From www.ifat.org International Federation for Alternative Trade prescribes 10 standards that Fair Trade organizations must follow in their day-to-day work and carries out continuous monitoring to ensure these standards are upheld:
• Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
• Transparency and accountability
Fair Trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.
• Capacity building
Fair Trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair Trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.
• Promoting Fair Trade
Fair Trade Organizations raise awareness of Fair Trade and the possibility of greater justice in world trade. They provide their customers with information about the organization, the products, and in what conditions they are made. They use honest advertising and marketing techniques and aim for the highest standards in product quality and packing.
• Payment of a fair price
A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair Traders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing.
• Gender Equity
Fair Trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.
• Working conditions
Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context.
• Child Labour
Fair Trade Organizations respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as local laws and social norms in order to ensure that the participation of children in production processes of fairly traded articles (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play. Organizations working directly with informally organised producers disclose the involvement of children in production.
• The environment
Fair Trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.
• Trade Relations
Fair Trade Organizations trade with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers and do not maximise profit at their expense. They maintain long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect that contribute to the promotion and growth of Fair Trade. Whenever possible producers are assisted with access to pre-harvest or pre-production advance payment.
• Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
• Transparency and accountability
Fair Trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.
• Capacity building
Fair Trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair Trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.
• Promoting Fair Trade
Fair Trade Organizations raise awareness of Fair Trade and the possibility of greater justice in world trade. They provide their customers with information about the organization, the products, and in what conditions they are made. They use honest advertising and marketing techniques and aim for the highest standards in product quality and packing.
• Payment of a fair price
A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair Traders ensure prompt payment to their partners and, whenever possible, help producers with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing.
• Gender Equity
Fair Trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.
• Working conditions
Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the law and norms in the local context.
• Child Labour
Fair Trade Organizations respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as local laws and social norms in order to ensure that the participation of children in production processes of fairly traded articles (if any) does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play. Organizations working directly with informally organised producers disclose the involvement of children in production.
• The environment
Fair Trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.
• Trade Relations
Fair Trade Organizations trade with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers and do not maximise profit at their expense. They maintain long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect that contribute to the promotion and growth of Fair Trade. Whenever possible producers are assisted with access to pre-harvest or pre-production advance payment.
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