My Peace Plan

Rules to talk with someone about any touchy topic (repeat rules to yourself before speaking)

1. I can not possibly know everything there is to know about this topic.
2. I do not understand everything that has lead this person to their choice whatever it is..
3. There are very many broken things in this world, yet every adult gets to make their own choices.
4. I will talk with this person, and seek to know more about this issue, understand more about their point of view and look for ways I can choose to make a positive difference with them, not against them.

Additionally, you can't say 'but'. No excuses to do the right thing.

I'm always interested in talking with people and learning what they think about the issues of the day. 

Recently, I've had a lot of conversations about the grid lock in politics, the Mid East crisis, gay rights and others.   It's easy to see two sides restating their version of what is right.  The goal of each side is to more forcefully make their point, with a 'more right' position than the other guy, until they win.  We even have polls to show who's winning and how that has changed over the last while.  How did this ever become the right process?  Do you know the right process?

In business two companies often find middle ground when they both can make money.  Not really a solution, as it is more driven by greed than goodwill.  If someone doesn't get the money they are entitled to, they seek a judge to force it.  The result there is a loss of Life and Liveliness and division.

Everyone wants peace, but no one is suggesting a plan to get there.  What literally are the first steps to begin a dialog to peace?  Someone always is helpful to state that dialog is required, but if people do not do dialog that seeks to build, and not destroy, dialog is just busy work.  Dialog about getting what you are entitled too is not helping.  Even if it provides a brief respite, it is at best a stopgap.  The entitlements are bound to repeat.

So here, humbly, I suggest my Plan for Peace.  I've tried to write this to apply to any topic, on any scale.  The bigger the scale, the fuzzier the ownership requirements, the bigger the excuses.   I believe if every one of us enters our dispute following these rules, we will build and not destroy.  If starting with the plan above is deeply uncomfortable, then ask yourself what you believe you are entitled to.

People must choose to find a solution, and it starts with the plan.

Help me Think

Why do we tell people what to do, instead of helping them think through THEIR choices?

I get that a business, informal or formal group, or government has to have rules, either policy and procedure or at least culture and taboo to provide a structure for safety, productivity and efficiency. But why does it always slide to a lazy state of just telling people 'do this'? I even get that unhealthy or immature people need the fear of punishment to help them over ride their passions. Hence, fear is the beginning of wisdom.  

But the goal should always build people up to where they understand their role, boundaries and their responsibilities, and once they have grown up fear is now a detriment.

Fear can backfire. Telling, or controlling the actions in the minutia breeds fear and angry people who are full of excuses because it is not their fault. When you tell someone what to do, you open the opportunity for them to blame you when it doesn't work. Rationally, you cannot tell someone what to do and then expect them to accept the consequences. It also isn't healthy for someone to be told to do something they don't agree with and expect them to own the consequences. Helping people think it through builds society and produces happy people.

For the sake of humanity, we have to take the time and have the discipline required to help people think. I really do think it is just that simple.

I believe

I believe that our purpose on this planet is to learn things through what is around us in order to make choices.  Then live with the consequences ourselves: not pushed onto others, or future generations.  The only thing possible to get from that process is a profound sense of the connectedness of it all, and the importance of community.

From there, one values transparency, equality and respect for all, and works to own the pains of this world for the sake of others.  The result?  A clear understanding that God is alive and active, actions that demonstrate the above, and an ability to enjoy life along with others in each moment.

Seriously folks, that pretty much sums it all up.

Just in case anyone wonders what I'm on about...

This is a speech by David Foster Wallace at a graduation.  The original full speech is on YouTube.

This is Water from Patrick Buckley on Vimeo.

My thoughts on the US election today

It's voting day in the US for a new president. I generally try to stay away from politics as it can be divisive, and I certainly don't mean to offend and take sides. But as a Canadian outsider, I feel the need to post some 'life and liveliness' things I've though this time around. 

I was really confused by this one. Seems like an attack on 'socialism' and against democrats, but is all about fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnX7TNFIELg&feature=plcp

I've seen many people supporting the Republican side on solely a faith based issue of 'pro life' which is fascinating that to many this is the issue to drive the day for many. Yet surely there are other values that are important, isn't there? I believe values are important, don't get me wrong, and I believe human life is precious. Yet why is this one value above and beyond any other?

As with all ethical things a myriad of other issues play in. Is it driven by some kind of 'sin value scale'? I don't think God has a scale that runs from little white lies up to abortion. Maybe the biggest challenge is thinking through all the issues, and here's a couple interesting links that surprised me this election which are values to consider.

Here's a committed republican's position on loosing the fear of universal heath care, which runs straight into other key issues surrounding the abortion debate. The thesis is if America had universal health coverage there would be less abortion: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/permissiontolive/2012/07/how-i-lost-my-fear-of-universal-health-care.html

Surely Christ saw all people equally, how can anyone justify denying a vote? Doesn't that show a profound lack of valuing others? http://www.southernstudies.org/2011/09/should-the-poor-be-allowed-to-vote.html

Sticky ethical issues can't have black and white solutions. If we close quarters on our specific ideas of 'what I define as right' (worse yet in God's name) we are doing the same things as those that want to enforce strict shari'ah law on others. We start a fight that takes away life and liveliness.

Adding life and liveliness is all about transparently including people, and supporting their needs in a sacrificial way. It helps no one to divide up into corners of 'my' values and throw rocks. It makes a difference to care and see the world through eyes of equality and understanding.

If I was voting, it would be for equality and understanding.

I have chickens!

I just realized that I really haven't been posting any new and deep thoughts.... I've actually started a few in the last few months, but haven't really re-read or posted them.

I did however build myself a chicken coop, and now am the proud owner of 8 chickens! Since I live in a small town in Alberta, it seemed fitting. According to the Birkmann test I took a few months ago, I have an interest in agriculture/outdoors, so I have permission to nurture my inner farmer.

Most of the chickens are young: 3 Silver Grey Dorkings (pictured and critically endangered in Canada), 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Americanus (the ones that lay light blue eggs) and one mature Rhode Island Red. The Rhode Island Red 'rules the roost' is at the top of the 'pecking order' and other wise bosses everyone around. She has earned the nickname of 'Attila the Hen'. She is the only one old enough to lay eggs so far.

I have to say, that I am simply amazed almost everyday as I stop by to pick up the freshly laid egg. It's just amazing to look at this edible product, and see where it came from!

The coop itself is more of a 'chicken condo' than a coop, complete with thermostatically controlled heating, but it's small, lots of poops lying around, and not a place I'd want to live. But in the chaos, the cramped quarters, these funny little beasts are capable of producing a perfect, clean, flawless, life sustaining egg.

I just look at them and don't seem to get over the amazement of it all. I like technology, but I'm thinking we're very far away from machinery managing to pull off anything as perfect as a simple egg.

Come on by: I'll share.

Most Inspiring Gift Ever

Got some news on my birthday today, which is the most inspiring gift ever.

In 1993 I was working for Samaritan's Purse Canada and had 'escaped' out of Mogadishu Somalia to Kenya, when Franklin Graham asked me to set up an African office in Nairobi. I said OK and built out a guest house to ferry volunteers, and an office to coordinate supplies into Somalia and Sudan. I also started discussions with UN members to start Samaritan Purses' Rwanda work.

Those were some pretty dark days as one might imagine (my brain starts spinning to even *think* about watching the movie Black Hawk Down: can you say a touch of PTSD? Not enough to mess up my life but I do see a Loomis truck in a parking lot, scan for trouble and park by the *other* entrance to the store.) The year and a half in E. Africa was very hard, but I'm proud of what I began. One of those first staff was Benson. He continues to work there today, and proved he was a man of integrity in those early days.

I was honoured to be included in a plan with Scott Hughett and John Clayton to privately provide some funds for Benson to build a greenhouse and sell tomatoes off season. John told me:

Benson told me, 'I know how to grow things'. He is growing tomatoes - I ate one, it was delicious. The challenge isn't growing them, it is growing them at the right time to hit the market. The 20L bucket can sell for either 200ksh ($2.50) or 2,000ksh (yeah - $25!), depending on the season - it's all about timing.

He also said:

His home is a 4 hour bus ride to work each day (it was a 2hr taxi ride each way), yes he gets up just after 4am each day to get to work. He told me that he hopes to be self sufficient in just a couple more years and will move completely to farming, and yes perhaps sleeping in occasionally. . .

Benson is totally inspiring for me. A guy with very little in the way of resources living with integrity and hard work allowed me to help, which is such an honour! I can't imagine what it would take to do what he has done. Look at that picture! That is the picture of someone owning his life with wisdom and strength of character. Talk about a guy adding live and liveliness, not taking it away.

Thanks for the great birthday gift of inspiration and food for thought Benson!