the secret to change

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

bulletin posting from St. Andrfew's Church last Sunday

Role Models.

This last Tuesday, we elected a role model to the White House, maybe the first Role Model to be elected in a very long time. Despite the issues facing our country and the hot button topics of the economy, war, and health care, I have found it incredibly comforting when listening to youth throughout the nation that they were more impressed by WHO Barack Obama IS, not simply how he speaks or his proposed agenda. We as a country have stood up and cried out for change. Saying that we need the best people to lead us, and the old prejudices will not hold us back. We chose our next Role Model, not simply someone who gives us the answers we want to hear.

So how can we here at St. Andrew's gather around that rally cry? How can we follow the leading of the Spirit into this new age? How can each of us commit further to the hope and change espoused in the recent Presidential race?

Each of us, no doubt, has our own answer, but today i'd like to ask you to consider following Christ's example and committing to leading by your actions and your deeds so that our most precious resource may see you and have hope for themselves and our combined future. You see, the most prevalent issue facing the youth of this territory (as it has been voiced to me by many of you) is that of the lack of Role Models. We critize that parents aren't parenting anymore. Our young men are killing each other in the street. Here at St. Andrew's, it's hard to excite people to become AYO sponsors, or volunteer for others of the numerous ministries happening on First Avenue.

When we look back on this exciting time in our lives, will we be able to say we have followed our President-Elect with "Yes we can!" echoing from our lips, or will we look back in sorrow at how the Islands have changed for the worse, while we sat and shook our heads wondering what we could have done to build a better and stronger community in which our children can become Role Models themselves. Mahatma Ghandi is credited with saying, "YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world."
If you are not comfortable letting our youth raise themselves, or if you are not willing to let this post-Christian world show them how greed, self devaluation, and materialism are their new golden rules, then stand up, become a mentor, and change your future by loving our youth in the name of Christ. Can we make this territory better for them? Yes we can.

View from my porch

night time on virgin gorda

finally!

i'll start posting pictures taken while in the islands and some artwork as well...first up? Charlotte Amalie..

Team Building

I have been asked for my process to building teams, and here is the agenda for an initial team building consultation. Games in bold can be googled for their rules. This process was used with outstanding results at St. Mary's school faculty professional development day Oct 21 on Virgin Gorda, BVI

Openers:
Speed Rabbit: silly game to laugh at each other. Person in the middle tells us about themselves.
Mirroring: a good and safe game to foster connection and pay attention to each other
Stop me: line up shoulder to shoulder in two lines, facing each other and about 15 ft apart. One side closes their eyes, the other silently sneaks towards them until the closed eyes hold up hands and say "stop." Discuss the observations.

Discussion: (questions tailored to situation and environment, use the respect communication guidelines)
Why do you do what you do? (teach, preach, minister, play, etc.)
How did you get here to this program, job, position, etc.?
When the career is over and you are on your deathbed looking back over your life, what do you hope to have accomplished in this work?

Changing direction: write on index cards three assets or skill sets you have that could be utilized for the better by one of your co-workers or peers. Then we trade these off, making deals and agreeing to offer ourselves to the other in some way, thus making a covenant of support to each other over the coming months.

Putting it together: (or google "team building games, initiatives" to find new ones)
Human Knot
Alphabet soup
Four Quad

Closing questions:
What did we learn from today?
What are the strengths of our team?
What are three ways our team can improve how we work with each other?

Love is the Answer

The only way to bring healing to a situation is reconciliation and renewal
The only way to move forward is to step back and see the big picture
The only way to conquer an enemy is to befriend them
The only way to gain power is to give it away
The only way to create a new consciousness is to acknowledge that we are imperfect and must deal with our past decisions, make amends, and talk things through.

I am beginning to understand my role as a negotiator.
I am beginning to understand my role as a healer.
God help me to keep my head above the waters of pain and frustration, so i may be a positive change agent.