by kenn | May 12, 2012 | Blogs |
Its day 6 and my famous red cup and water bottle have become my loathed best friends. I love them because they keep me going, and loath them because they are the last thing in the world I want. I’m only a week in and it’s been extremely interesting to not only self evaluate my physical being but my psychological being. When we started we were challenged to keep an eye on our psych and watch changes in our behavior. Not thinking enough into it time I now understand why we were asked to do that – for me this is where the true empathy is coming from. While I cannot image what it would be like to live a life of starvation, I am truly starting to scratch the surface of understanding what physical poverty is like and why its a downward spiral. Anyone in desperate need of help, needs just that, help. However if you cannot help yourself the only place that help can come from is other people. The catch 22 is that when you are physically impoverished your first and natural reaction is to go into seclusion avoiding contact with other, and thus ultimately decreasing any if not all your chances to receive support. I am more an extrovert than an introvert but during this time it has really challenged me to be in large groups, social settings, or the like – I’m becoming an introvert, not that that’s bad, just crazy for me. The true question is why? What I have personally found is that when you cannot participate fully with others in activities that are outside your means (even...
by minde | May 8, 2012 | Blogs |
“It is not surprising that compassion, understood as suffering with, often evokes in us a deep resistance and even protest.” I can’t help but come back to these words in the book “Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life” as I start day one of 25 in change. I recognize the protest happening within my mind and body as I neglect the selfish sponge that I am, but I also recognize the deep protest within me to stand against the injustice of a silent killer. What would it be like if believers really could be collective solutions to the suffering and injustice of others? That there could be a potential danger we are starting? That I am starting. I can feel that danger right before me. The danger teetering between greed and grace. The danger of starting a revolution. This morning I woke up to a thick, ashy sky with soft rain weeping. I feel this mimics my soul right now. There is a mourning happening within. Mourning for not doing this sooner. Mourning for how attached I am to the pleasure and comfort of food. Mourning for those who don’t have a choice whether they eat, or what they eat. Mourning for my own feelings of loneliness even though 24 others are alongside me advocating and a billion others who I will never be able to fully understand their suffering and pain, but long to. I’ve eaten my second 12 oz portion of rice and beans and already Im feeling my taste buds resist. Although, the sense of fullness is satisfying and feels heavy inside, I find myself wanting to forgo eating all together. Im sure by the end of this...
by admin | May 5, 2012 | Blogs |
Someone once said “Be the change you wish to see in the world”, but is this really a good ethical model for uncreative and selfish people? I mean, let’s be honest, we only really want selfish, uncreative, violent, and rude people to change—the rest of us have it figured out. Right? After creating the first production car, Henry Ford was asked about how the customer influenced his decision, he answered “If had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses”. To ask people who are stuck in a rigid and complex system to “be the change they wish to see in the world” is very much like asking people what kind of car they would like to drive when all they have ever done is ride horses. How can you imagine something when you’ve never even been close enough to think about it? I’m a fan of the concept of “being the change”, but sometimes we need the needs of the world to change us before we can imagine what change in the world should look like. I think it’s much more honest to say “Become the change”. 25 in change is world revolution which begins by revolutionizing our own personal worlds. The technology of 21st century has allowed us to become radically global in our communication, but it also has enabled us to become extremely isolated. We can be distracted, entertained, and numbed to the needs of the world through the illusion of being connected to it through technology. If we don’t like what we hear or see, we simply change the channel or close...
by kenn | Apr 30, 2012 | Blogs |
“World Food Program USA (WFP USA) is a nonprofit organization that builds support in the United States to end global hunger. WFP USA engages individuals and organizations, shapes public policy and generates resources for the United Nations World Food Program and other hunger relief operations.” “Imagine a world without hunger…what would it take? With nearly 1 billion hungry people around the world, how do we get there? WFP USA believes that everyone has a role to play in eradicating hunger, from individuals to organizations, from governments to the private sector. Leadership at the highest levels of the U.S. government is a critical component of solving the problem. We educate Members of Congress, the administration and other government officials about international hunger issues and specific policies that could improve U.S. government efforts to address global hunger. We also advocate for sufficient funding to ensure that U.S. government programs are reaching as many people as possible who are in need around the world. To build support for strong U.S. leadership in addressing global hunger, we collaborate with and mobilize opinion leaders, businesses, grassroots networks, nonprofits, coalitions and others.” ~World Food Programme “We can put an end to global hunger, but not without your help! More than 1 billion people are going hungry today. They need your voice to ensure that they are not forgotten in Congress. Members of Congress are elected to represent you in Washington, DC, and they want to hear from their constituents on what issues are most important to them. These tools will help you shape your message so you can speak to Congress on behalf of the...
