tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post1325521071211624589..comments2023-05-15T10:21:43.665+02:00Comments on face value: bimbo saves the worldAcaciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03148234753192860981noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-41073872866921950112009-11-11T20:20:08.670+02:002009-11-11T20:20:08.670+02:00Your talents (gifts), passions, and desires may be...Your talents (gifts), passions, and desires may be your greatest indicators of what you ought to do about this. <br /><br />The one skill that you have that we all can atest to is your ability to articulate things... <br /><br />...perhaps you have already started making an impact by opening up this dialog. <br /><br />One of the concepts that have rocked my life lately is the Mother Theresa concept of "We cannot do great things, we can only do small things with great love." The question is, what are the small things (sucrifices for others) that we are called to do at this point in our lives? If we are not doing those, then who is?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-41128591474583576052009-11-04T16:49:08.824+02:002009-11-04T16:49:08.824+02:00Thinking and being concerned about it is a start.....Thinking and being concerned about it is a start...the challenge comes in chanelling your energies in the right direction...wouldnot it be lovely if we were heroes and heroines all the time...no matter what u do wheter big or small it does make a difference...how big of a difference is debatable but a difference none the lessMuzahttp://afrisciheroes.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-49622477414164305482009-11-02T21:26:54.170+02:002009-11-02T21:26:54.170+02:00hmmm... very interesting...hmmm... very interesting...Bruce Zamaerenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-56508224257379518762009-10-30T14:06:47.509+02:002009-10-30T14:06:47.509+02:00i am feeling quite disheartened at working at a na...i am feeling quite disheartened at working at a national and global level - if everyone does their bit locally much more is achievable...Georgia Burfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-85360425444686125272009-10-30T12:03:43.315+02:002009-10-30T12:03:43.315+02:00Rephrasing (or something like it).
Jess, what are...Rephrasing (or something like it).<br /><br />Jess, what are you are doing is asking your mind. You don't ask your mind when it comes to such matters. It'll just give you (like it does to so many of us) reasons why it (whatever it is you think you ought to do) can't be done, etc, etc. <br /><br /><br />It's good to know that you seriously ponder these issues. It gives hope.Michael Phoyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350566278311714843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-60695024919959442322009-10-29T15:03:47.986+02:002009-10-29T15:03:47.986+02:00Ummm – thanks Jess - I am also impressed with the ...Ummm – thanks Jess - I am also impressed with the joint wisdom expressed here in the responses. Someone said to me that if you find the answer then you know you must have got it wrong. So what if there is no answer? Then we live with the paradox and imbalance. We never feel entirely satisfied with our response to the world around us but just keep doing our best in all humility. Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.dadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-36531972157792605902009-10-29T10:21:21.188+02:002009-10-29T10:21:21.188+02:00those who have the slightest sensitivity do feel u...those who have the slightest sensitivity do feel uncomfortable with the injustices of poverty. we shouldn't knock direct debits - what if you are an old person unable to engage? but not enough for some of us like emma who want it to be more personal. <br />jesus said 'the poor are always with us'.<br />gus said 'can't fix them all'.<br />yiwonda said 'keep it simple and as direct as possible'. <br />michael said (paraphrasing!)'get on with it'.<br />so let's start with the people we do know and thoughtfully help them (not just with money). having an attitude of giving as a lifestyle is also helpful. i like the idea of encouraging small business so that a handout or loan enables someone to build a life with dignity and satisfaction. but often we are asked to help in a crisis and then we have to choose to give or refuse without guilt, and therein is the hard part!mmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-37330510121488605682009-10-28T13:52:33.258+02:002009-10-28T13:52:33.258+02:00Don't hold back Michael! Say what you feel!!
...Don't hold back Michael! Say what you feel!! <br /><br />Jess, I loved this post. You have a way of articulating a lot of what is going on in my head, in a much better way that I could say it, but in a way that rarely gives clear-cut answers, and causes me more confusion! Ok, so as someone who lives in Ireland, has lived in South Africa, wants to engage with people in meaningful ways, wants to use what I have wisely but in a way that doesn't patronise or undermine - I can identify with much of what you said. To be honest, I'm starting to feel like I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. If I sit on my hands and do nothing, I am accused of having no compassion, of not caring, of being detached from the real world. I don't give much directly to charities, because I'm cynical about how they use money (saw a lot of misuse in South Africa), but I agree with you that it's not enough for me to just set up my little direct debit and then forget about the world with a clean conscience. I like microfinance (kiva.org is good), but again, I'm just passing on money, and nothing of myself. But when I try to engage, use my skills, offer my help, I've been accused of being patronising, belittling, damaging. I have many wonderful friends in South Africa who get angry with people in the West for their lack of engagement, but equally angry when support is offered. I'm well aware that support is often given wrongly - I've written papers on it, to try to get people here to think more about how they engage. But I'm just not sure where I can fit in the middle of it all. And it's not an African thing - I see the same situations in the communities I work in here in Belfast.Emmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-78876563157904053102009-10-27T09:43:10.829+02:002009-10-27T09:43:10.829+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.Michael Phoyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350566278311714843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-58694654429945712192009-10-26T18:38:34.952+02:002009-10-26T18:38:34.952+02:00Jess,
Like yourself & Charisa i also beleive ...Jess,<br /><br />Like yourself & Charisa i also beleive you must 'be the change you wish to see in the world'<br /><br />Living where i do now, gives me a constant reality check. It allows me many oportunities every day to do something.<br /><br />Your writing is such an inspiration, your a special person. Thank you for just being youKaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-81751998891503541812009-10-26T18:37:34.360+02:002009-10-26T18:37:34.360+02:00No death feels right. The death of someone close f...No death feels right. The death of someone close feels even more incorrect. The death of a young one feels unacceptable indeed. Such is the reality of our journey on earth. But we just don’t sit back and accept this reality. Theophilus death could have been prevented. But then efforts are being made to prevent such. Money is being thrown around and people are selling their souls to 'good' organisations. Yet we are having more and more of these unacceptable deaths. What are we not doing or doing wrong????????? Maybe knowing the answer could help us get option 3.Livnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-80435590726519969672009-10-26T14:40:47.987+02:002009-10-26T14:40:47.987+02:00When your talents (writing passionately and sensit...When your talents (writing passionately and sensitively) naturally merge with your desires (for a more just world with better 'results') that is when something beautiful happens. <br /><br />Generating debate, raising awareness, provoking responses, inspiring action... that not enough for you? Can you build on that?ceriwoodwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12481642938698417052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-43152471256923413032009-10-26T14:05:22.485+02:002009-10-26T14:05:22.485+02:00enjoyed, will be thinking about it. my current re...enjoyed, will be thinking about it. my current refuges from moral responsibility are cynicism and drink.Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-3510217569008240552009-10-26T13:14:21.743+02:002009-10-26T13:14:21.743+02:00Jess,
Ghandi's quote is also one of my favori...Jess, <br />Ghandi's quote is also one of my favorites, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I don't think there's a right way or a wrong way to respond to the need, the hurting, and the injustice in the world. I say, just DO something! <br />Whether it's getting involved on the ground, giving a donation, or inspiring others to think about such issues by writing a blog on the topic. (By the way, the simple fact that you work in a clinic in Malawi is a contribution in itself!)<br />Thanks for encouraging us to stop and consider what our role is in bringing about healing and justice in this messed up world.Charisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-7432976104357348472009-10-26T11:42:05.549+02:002009-10-26T11:42:05.549+02:00There is a difference between a mercenary and a co...There is a difference between a mercenary and a conscript. The mercenary gets paid and then goes on to work for the next highest bidder. He/she is a hand for hire, he/she has no principles per se, maybe except making money and maybe a certain political leaning but basically its the money. The conscript is a citizen drafted into his/her nation's armed forces, he/she may not be very willing but still the interests of the nation affect them.<br /><br />We may send our money or we may give some of our gifts but indeed its not the same as involved commitment. When you move from the bleachers to the field, when you no longer just shout instructions about what could or should but actually do, thats a whole different ballgame.NEEDLESSNESSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-69420241456403694712009-10-26T02:22:23.624+02:002009-10-26T02:22:23.624+02:00I think its not true that you're not respondin...I think its not true that you're not responding to poor situations you see around you - its just that the problems are quite diverse and astronomical - cant fix them all as I'm starting to realise.gusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705927924848906242.post-77169490143015090992009-10-26T02:16:37.601+02:002009-10-26T02:16:37.601+02:00i think you should do something where you make the...i think you should do something where you make the decisions if you want it to be meaningful - i say this because you seem to be quite passionate about this and you may find that saying 'here you go' to someone be it with ideas or money it may not translate into what you have in mind. my advice is keep it simple - and as direct as possible - not too many middlemen and you will be sure to find your fulfillment ;)YMBnoreply@blogger.com