Category Archives: Contesting assumptions

Nov29

Worldwide tipping point

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My earlier post about tipping points in our lives was revisited on Sunday whilst speaking with an amazing young woman. I have come to know her through the involvement of one of my sons in a community development project in Rwanda. She, like so many of the souls I have been exposed to recently, is part of a groundswell of intelligent, compassionate individuals committed to making a difference in our world.

We discussed the emergence of a growing awareness – even while amidst the safe mediocrity of our selfish and mundane existence – about what we can do to draw together and support our global family. My friend has this morning sent me through two links that extend our conversation:

Go to http://worldwidetippingpoint.com/ for some inspiration (and check out their Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Worldwide-Tipping-Point/45488233368?sk=wall)

I also followed her link to Mike Daisey’s confronting approach to addressing global change, related to the dangers of corporatisation. Daisey, known for his monologue ‘If You See Something Say Something.’ has been called ‘pugnacious, funny and touching’ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/mike-daisey-goes-after-apple-the-late-steve-jobs-20111014-1lnj5.html … and I agree with these references.Hearing Mike’s challenge brings up indignation and resistance in me.

My approach to anything that emotes fear, or anger within me (hearing of the overwhelming atrocities and indignities that we are exposed to daily across the media) is to come back to my core truth … that everything resides in love. Any response to anything … no matter how horrifying or terrifying … must come from my heart, from love. Every solution lies in love, not fear, not hatred, not war.

The following link will take you to his hour-long, no-holds-barred monologue, containing strong opinions and offensive language … that really challenged my thinking. If you are ready to be challenged about where you stand in the global picture of change , you may like to have a look. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Worldwide-Tipping-Point/45488233368?sk=wall

What are your thoughts on how we … I … can contribute individually to global change?

Nov22

A story of unimaginable courage through adversity

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I’ve just watched this on ABC’s Big Ideas – Emmanuel Jal speaking his story about his early life as a child soldier. While I have lived my privileged, sheltered life, Emmanuel has endured this existence, and ultimately exposed unimaginable courage.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2011/11/22/3372181.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Jal

Nov6

The bus(y)ness of life & the magic of time

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Over the last month or so I’ve been away quite a bit … a couple of weeks staying at an ashram on the edge of a forest; time with two little people up in the hills while their parents took their own time out; and most recently with precious friends by the beach, paddling in the sea and dozing peacefully beside two honey-coloured dogs, sprawled out in dappled sunlight on an airy wooden deck. I have been delighting in the challenges and transformations that have found their way out of this time. Time where I have been able to reflect, to ponder, to wonder … to sink more deeply into myself and create the space where mysteries have begun to unfold.

I’m rather a fan of the Greek notion of time. They have two words … chronos and kairos … that highlight the difference between deadlines, appointments, work structures and key performance indicators (chronos) and the magic and honouring place where time seems to stand still while we languish in the joy of being (kairos).

Giovanni, in Liz Gilbert’s Eat Love Pray (re-viewed in one of my kairos moments over this last weekend) spoke of the Italian ideal of ‘dolce far niente’ … the sweetness of doing nothing’, and these last weeks have allowed me the sublime pleasure of stepping off the treadmill of my chronos-driven existence, to savour the delicious reality of a simple and more contemplative life. Even while in the midst of the demands of my busy world, I have been able to find relief and sustenance in the simplicity of an uncomplicated and authentic existence.

In my moments of kairos over the next days and weeks, my challenge, and my delight, will be to continue to percolate some of the thoughts that have begun to emerge …

Take some time yourself … kairos time … to see what thoughts emerge that resonate more authentically for you …