Tag: Hope

Categories
#spiritualintelligence

Trade and Foreign Affairs

The Athenian envoys said to the Melians:

We both know that the decisions about justice are made in human discussions only when both sides are under equal compulsion, but when one side is stronger, it gets as much as it can, and the weak must accept that” – (416 B.C.E)

In similar vain, Africa’s cry for justice and fairness at negotiating tables is in vain, until we are seen as equals. Sadly as in ancient antiquity, the strong still plunder the weak in the 21st century.

#ideas #justice #fairness #power #internationalrelations

Categories
#spiritualintelligence

Holiday – Holy Day

Thought Leaders Series: 2018

The artist popularly known as Madonna released a hit single in 1983, entitled Holiday. Like all magical stories, Holiday had been turned down by singers Phyllis Hyman and Mary Wilson, formerly of The Supremes. In similar vein with the vision of the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, this song calls for a global Holiday.

Written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of Pure Energy, the track was presented to Madonna by her producer John “Jellybean” Benitez, during their search for a potential hit track to include in her debut album.

Interestingly the word Holiday actually emerged from the concept of a Holy Day. In Judaism it is a sabbath, a day of abstinence, worship, and rest from all form of toil and exertion.

In Judaism we also have the sabbath week, and the sabbath year (also known as The Year of Jubilee). It was meant to be observed on the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle for the Land of Israel.

As well as leaving the land to replenish, by the end of the year all debts (sadly, like usury and other concepts around social justice, the debts of foreigners was not included) were cancelled, and slaves are set free. In fact, Jeremiah will blame the Exile on the lack of observance of The Jubilee.

To this end scholars argue that the main reason why it was never observed was because of the greed of the ruling elites. They did not want debts cancelled, slaves set free, or a year long holiday for workers.

Once every four years, the FIFA World Cup affords us the opportunity to just relax and enjoy twenty two men chase a leather ball for 90mins.

When was the last time you just relaxed and played? This could take the shape of watching a movie, listening to music, hanging out with friends.

As well as work, play is an important part of being human. Some of the most innovative ideas were conceived through play. In the words of Madonna:

Let love shine

And we will find

A way to come together

Can make things better

We need a holiday

To a great week!

Healingsprings fellowship: Human Capital Development

http://www.healingsprings.org.uk

Reachout | Revive | Recover

Categories
#spiritualintelligence

Leadership, and the challenges of our time

Thought Leaders Series: 2018

Seldom do we see leaders stepping up at a time of adversity as we see with the Elders at a time that can be best described as their worst crisis.

Amidst the destruction of the Temple (the place they met with Yahweh), destruction of their institutions; power vacuum leading to political and social instability; the Elders were able to come up with ideas that will not only sustain them through Exile, but also preserve them as a nation.

On reflection on their trajectory, and with exposure to ideas in Babylon they came up with the philosophy of monotheism, and the idea that God does not need a visual representation (idols), but, is in fact a spirit. And that he works through them as co-creators or stewards in the continuation of his purpose on earth.

Interestingly we also see the early developments of other ideas that will later form the basis of Christian doctrine. These include: the idea of a contrary force (Satan or the devil), although we are not privy to the source of this entity or being; the concept of resurrection of the dead and judgement in the afterlife; a messiah (one that will lead the people of Israel against their enemies); and in the absence of The Temple, fasting and prayers as means of atonement and connecting to Yahweh, and as a means of resisting Satan.

These Elders were wise. They saw that the tides were shifting, and that what was held as ‘truth’ in time past were no longer so. Rather than forcing these old ideas on the masses, they reimagined, reengineered, re-envisioned, and reinvented their faith not only to address present challenges, but also future challenges. In simple terms, instead of going backwards, they chose the more difficult option of moving forward.

In the words of Nehru:

Crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think.” – Jawaharlal Nehru (first Prime Minister of India)

Consequently the present crisis we face in our world should force us to think. These challenges can act as a catalyst to move us, but there are only two polar opposite directions: forward or backward.

The choice for us as leaders is binary.

Reachout | Revive | Recover

http://www.healingsprings.org.uk