How do you solve the crisis in Zimbabwe?

I don't think *anyone* outside of Zimbabwe would defend Robert Mugabe as 'doing the right thing'. Far too many shady things going on, not to mention people being killed and others starving. I'd be interested to find out if there anyone who wants to try and defend the man. The first question is what do you personally gain?

If you're brave, ask someone if they are evil. The bible says we (the whole world) are. Do you believe that? Do you believe you are as evil as Robert Mugabe?

It's the pivitol perspective that drives everything else we think, act on, understand and governs all that we do. It's foundational to every crisis. The question is not if you're better than him, the question is if you are owning the things you are responsible for.

The Bible starts off will a big wide angle look at where it all started in creation. Then the story starts with a profound picture of the most important thing: brokeness, sin, human evil: whatever you want to call it. From there, it pretty much becomes ways to hide it, avoid it or blame it on someone else.

It's so easy to avoid responsibility. We sometimes don't have to try. Heck, sometimes it's obvious that others are to blame, and we have to work *really* hard to articulate our role in what is broken. Of course, bad things *do* happen to us, and we are victims of other people's pain. But that is never an excuse for us to keep *being* a victim and blaming them. At some point, it's our responsibility to own the pain. Yes, that is not fair that someone can cause pain, that we now have to accept. That is just a fact of life.

Sometimes everything can be broken around us, and we are just stuck there. That is the moment to understand how broken we are too, and reach out in community with those around us to be a part of a better tomorrow. Not judgemental as some kind of self appointed Jesus.

Sometimes the pain is clearly being caused by someone else, and you are 'innocent' as you stand by unscathed. Hmmmmm, can we really call that innocent?

Sometimes we enjoy the bliss of the honeymoon, when we embark on something new because we're gaining something we want. We're in bliss until our own selfishness (aka: evil broken nature) creeps up on us and the honeymoon is over because we are faced with all the things we thought we were entitled to that isn't really working out the way we want.

But perhaps the scariest of all is the notion that 'I'm absolutely right and I need to inflict change on you for you to be happy' as some superior position. As Scott and I talked about, as soon as you think your position is absolutely solid, correct and justifiable, it's certainly going sideways: you just don't know it yet. This is only possible if you think you're really smart, and not as messed up as someone else. Religious conflict (muslim vs christian, war on Iraq, communist vs capitalist) all fall into this category. Sure there are some things better than others, and someone has to lead and choose. And sometimes revolution is required.

The cycle of pain from crisis will continue until responsibility is taken.

My homage to 'Eat Local Food'

Alan did a whole series on eating local in Hawaii, where he lives. Day 6 was quite tasty, although it cost considerably more and a bit of a trick finding bamboo in Olds or Didsbury Alberta.

The local farmers around here have what amounts to a similar problem, in that we rely on food from everywhere else too. We're further ahead I guess in that Hawaii has such a dependence on goods shipped from the mainland and we don't. But recent border closures due to Mad Cow disease have clearly demonstrated how fragile things can be for us as well here in Alberta.

I was over visiting my lamb farmer friend, and it's getting harder and harder to make a profit raising lamb for market. The cost of barley rising, bales of hay doubling, transportation, cutting costs, it's difficult for everyone.

I for one will proudly support my local farmer! In fact, this little guy is making me hungry now! I can't wait for the fall and some fresh lamb. Mmmmmmmmmmm I'm happy to pay whatever Craig needs to be 'on the list'.