Sculptures of Justice are historically of a blindfolded female holding scales. We say she is blind. The intent is to show an impartiality in judgment. We want to assert that Justice makes decisions independent of the particulars of a person’s circumstances, appearance, background, or demographics. Greed wants to assert the same thing. Greed spins a…
Greed has generally been considered an excessive desire to get and keep more than one needs. The degree of excess appears to be related to the inability to distinguish wants from needs. On one hand greed may seek to deprive others from basic survival, comfort, and opportunity; conspiracies of world domination come to mind. On the…
Fashion Shopping Petty arguments Jealousy Phone screens Tablet screens Laptop screens Computer screens TV screens Big screens Tattoos Affairs Piercings Real Housewives Say Yes to the Dress Downton Abbey Comic books Celebrities Freeways Helicopters Tinted windshields Sunglasses indoors What would you add to this list of ways to avoid facing the uneasy truce we have…
How do we know that engaging in the process of reconciliation is in order? Why devote the time and energy required in a potentially uncomfortable process to resolve the warring factions within me when I am not assured of a direct, measurable outcome? What difference will it make? There are scores of reasons to suggest…
There are disparities between warring factions in my thoughts and feelings all the time. For most of them, I find an uneasy peace of sorts. I get to a position that seems right to me and stick with it. Since this week I am writing about the importance of reconciliation in developing community, I thought…
Reconciliation WORD over all, beautiful as the sky! Beautiful that war, and all its deeds of carnage, must in time be utterly lost; That the hands of the sisters Death and Night, incessantly softly wash again, and ever again, this soil’d world: … For my enemy is dead—a man divine as myself is dead; I…
Many of us think of the first, or more prominent, meaning of reconcilation which says opposing parties can make things right with each other. Common use of this term involves religions and spirituality. Are sinners reconciled to God? Have the people who do wrong been reconciled with those they have wronged? The third meaning of…
Flourishing communities have a degree of flexibility that can scare the hell out of their members. Our attraction to things that are safe and familiar is remarkable. We like the security of our labels, our short cuts, our traditions. We like things to match or contrast in predictable ways. Still, being flexible in our response…
If communities are going to form, function, and thrive, their members must identify the leadership that exists. Because there is always much to be done in communities, many leaders are needed. Humans are a talented, intelligent bunch overall, and leaders are abundant. They conduct, control, counsel, direct, govern, guide, head, illuminate, manage, organize, pioneer, preside,…
If communities are going to form, function, and thrive, their members must recognize community issues and find motivation to address these issues. Once communities identify their issues – which is a big deal – they can see how community members share some values and not others. Even when community members agree on an issue, they…
Creating Community for Everyone 