Last night with a friend I was revisiting and renewing a personal approach to development work that has brought me a lot of joy and, I think, contributes to handling the burn out that lurks around threatening to destroy our peace of mind. Try this:
When I reflect on the sources of funds that pay for the activities I am directing/ planning and that pay my salary, I visualize an honest hard working couple with 2-3 kids (maybe in southern Italy, in northern England, in Newfoundland or Ipnavik River, Alaska) and struggling to provide a happy and healthy environment for their children. They are ordinary people who pay taxes and make charitable contributions because they believe in some part of their hearts, that it is the right thing to do - to share a bit of what they have to assist others who face even bigger challenges in finding education, health care, fairly remunerated employment, freedom to practice their own religion, and the many basic human needs.
With whatever lies between them and the project group i work with - perhaps bureaucratic efficiencies/lack of efficiencies, conflicted policies/ clear ones, encrusted hierarchical practices/ transparent delivery systems - it comes down to me, little old me, to do the best with this. I am the focus of their trust and Love. I am a key facilitator of a team that has found its way to this place and point of time where those donations can make a difference. I am not hyperbolizing at all when i say this work has holy content and holy potential for us. We are the guardians of the best motivations at the core of the heart of the people who make the money and make the contribution. We are the priests and priestesses of a system of sharing that is motivated by that noble desire for direct heart to heart content.
That man / that woman bending over to kiss their sleeping child (maybe in southern Italy, in northern England, in Newfoundland or Ipnavik River, Alaska) is kissing us, kissing the child and family we seek to serve.
In the buddhist tradition one of the three refuges is the community of people who are on the path of practice. This is "the sangha" - a Pali word. The other two are "the awakened/ awakening one" (the buddha) and "the truth of the way it is" (the dhamma).
All those who awaken and are awakening to "the truth of the way it is" in what we call "development assistance", are part of this sangha or community. We work to become more clearly and consistently aware. We become more clearly and consistently aware, to be a better vehicle for communicating Love.
Let us help each other with thoughts, words and deeds of kindness and encouragement to awaken to our role in the Development Sangha.
What do you think?
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1 comment:
You go! Big topic.....difficult too. I am not very well-thought out on it I fear. At the most basic level, I have no doubts that 'something has to be done' about the desperate situations people are in because of poverty, and I wouldn't want to hand the whole job of doing something about it over to businessmen /politicians.........but besides that I am not at all sure about the best ways of going about it.
We also know that it makes such a difference when things DO change from of widespread poverty--our own countries..well mine certainly...are a good example. And so, the effort IS worth it....but...but....what should it be?
I was struck this visit by a comment of one v. high-level political economy-analyst type consultant who said when he retires (in an African country, with Africa-born wife) he may think of helping or setting up an orphanage, as one way to give back to the developing world which has given him so much (financially i think). For me what was striking was that for all the high-level policy etc he's been doing, it seems that when it comes to finally feeling personally satisfied/good about himself?, he thinks- something more like direct help to real people he knows will be what he'll want to do (rather than fund people like himself I guess!). I'm not sure what this shows or not....maybe only another person with doubts..
And yet, policy is where the big changes do happen.........if done right etc etc
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