Global Integrators--20

 Globe-Bael and Globe-Babel

New Concepts and Old Cautions
for Global Integrators

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Toren van Babel, Joost de Momper, circa 1600

We think that the time is coming for a diversity of colleagues to join together intentionally, visibly, and practically on behalf of global integration (GI). GI put simply is how we skillfully integrate our lives and values on behalf of the issues facing humanity. Likewise we think that the time is coming for colleagues to carefully reflect and act on what it means to be good global learners-practitioners--to seriously consider what it means to be what we are calling global integrators (GI-People).

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I want to begin with a brief acknowledgment about some new GI concepts, encapsulated in new terms. I have tried to craft several global-related terms in recent months to describe some of the key processes, issues, and directions we are facing in the world community and as global integrators. (hopefully not global-ish gibberish)

I am with the world community in its sincere efforts to resolutely go globable (globe-able) on behalf of the world’s growing globeails (globe-ails). We yearn to be able to address all ails—to act on the moral imperative to skillfully scale up our global efforts for wellbeing for all people and our planet. So I am in, and I encourage all global integrators to be in too.

Nonetheless I have two cautions, which I share from my perspective as a practicing Christian and a clinical psychologist. They are the Bael and the Babel dimensions (metaphors-realities both reflecting selfishness) that affect global progress. Please note that my thoughts are still in formation as I try to connect my world view with involvement in areas like global mental health and sustainable development.

1. Going Globael (Globe-Bael). Bael is a metaphor I am using that is derived from a major god/idol mentioned frequently In the Old Testament, Bael. Among other monstrosities, Bael “required” child sacrifice in order to be placated. Bael was a stumbling block for the Jewish nation (and other nations) and the Bael cult/religion led to some severe consequences (such as Divine judgment and exile) according to Old Testament accounts.

Bael for me represents evil. Globael represents global evil. It is the ubiquitous spread of evil that undermines even our best efforts to help humanity. Evil, like virtue, is resilient too. It does not just go away by well-meaning people working on wellbeing for all people. Some examples, broadly speaking, which reflect our globails (globe-ails) and which ultimately exploit people and our planet include 7 C's: Crime (including disregard for the rule of law and human dignity), Corruption (the abuse of power for personal gain), Consumerism (including its devastating effects on poverty and planetary boundaries), Conflict (including its massive negative impact of human security, state-building, and livelihoods), Calamity (natural disasters), Conscience-rationalization (including complacency and self-justification), and last but not least, binding it all together: Çelfishness (that is, selfishness--with some linguistic license). Bael is alive and wael.

2. Going Globabel (Globe-Babel). Babel refers to a city and its tower in the Book of Genesis. The account tells of many people coming together in one place whose ambition was “to build for ourselves a city, and make a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth” (Gen. 11: 4). God intervenes (v. 6) because “they are one people, and they all have the same language…and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” I am frankly not clear what this is all about and the connection between what seems to be an incredibly ambitious (creative?) human effort and its propensity to bring harm/evil on humanity and to greatly displease God/be at odds with God’s purposes for humanity. So I  may be wrong, but it would seem to me that the main issue was that they were seeking their own welfare apart from the welfare of others and God’s purposes. And ultimately, leaving God out of the picture. So once again, perhaps binding it all together, is selfishness.

Babel is thus a metaphor for me of humanity, well-intentioned or otherwise, seeking its own welfare (perhaps arrogantly?) to the exclusion of others and God. That is not how life is intended to work, from a Christian perspective. Rather connecting with others and cultivating a relationship with God is central as is a humble acknowledgement of one’s need for God—at all levels of society. Perhaps Babel could also be metaphorically understood as disciplinary or national towers that grow more vertically than horizontally--self-serving silos at the expense of multi-disciplinary and international efforts on behalf of humanity and the planet. Either way, Babel is thus a mixed term at best for me and a reality to avoid. Don’t dabble with Babel.

Going Doxological

So are we missing something essential by not explicitly acknowledging the undermining reality of evil and the underlying reality of God, as we are “going globable on behalf of our growing globails”? Sure! I am all for supporting human efforts to do good. I see it as the imago Dei at work within the missio Dei, regardless of whether one believes in these things or not. Humans do good. Yet I think humans do better when they include and honor God in the process. And more specifically I think we can do much better at “transforming our world” (e.g. the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sept. 2015) and “restoring humanity” (e.g. the World Humanitarian Summit’s Global Voices Calling for Action, Sept. 2015) if God is included and honored in our efforts and if we started with transformation and restoration in our own hearts. The world will not be a better place unless "better people" make it so.

What in fact would it mean to “include and honor God” especially given the diversity of worldviews and faith/non-faith perspectives in the world community? Let me answer this query in terms of three "levels: the collective heart level, the collective pragmatic level, and the personal level for me.

At the heart level it would mean this: People respectfully appreciate others’ perspectives/worldviews, while also having the freedom to sensitively share their own, and to include/integrate their beliefs/values into the efforts for transformation and restoration. At the pragmatic level it would mean acknowledging and including faith-based organizations intentionally in UN efforts for wellbeing—and vice versa. This is not easy--getting everyone together (within the diverse faith-based sector itself, not to mention civil society, the academy, the private sector, and the UN system) to work cooperatively.

For some more perspectives and current examples related to the heart and pragmatic levels, see the article on the United Nations Interagency Task Force for Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations for Sustainable Development (aka UN Task Force on Religion and Development, 6 July 2015, Inter Press Service).” See also the training/interactive event to be held in Turin, Italy in November 2015, “Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations and Communities in Development and Humanitarian Work” (UN Strategic Learning Exchange). See also our special Global Integration Update from August 2015 on Faith-Based Partners in Transformation. 

On a personal level there is another term that points me, a developing global integrator practicing Christian spirituality, in a helpful direction: globalleluia (globe-Alleluia). This is yet another new term and it refers to having an underlying doxological motive and goal in one's global life. It is knowing, praising, honouring, and depending on God as we work globally. It’s ad majorem Dei gloriam. It’s, well, one of my favorite words that rolled off my tongue from my heart not to long ago:  alleluYahweh. Praise to the One whom no greater being can be conceived (to paraphrase Anselm). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.” (Romans 11:36). GloballeluYahweh

Global Integrators--12

Transforming the World

A Call for Personal Transformation
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“Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains ... an unuprooted small corner of evil. "
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago
(more quotes here)

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We think that the time is coming for a diversity of colleagues to come together intentionally, visibly, and practically on behalf of global integration (GI). GI put simply is how we skillfully integrate our lives and values on behalf of the issues facing humanity. Likewise we think that the time is coming for colleagues to carefully reflect and act on what it means to be good global learners-practitioners--to seriously consider what it means to be what we are calling global integrators (GI-People).

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Transforming the World by 2030:
A New Agenda for Global Action

This is the latest high-level UN document for the intergovernmental negotiations for the Post 2015 development agenda (2 June 2015). It is a crucial source of synthesized thinking-experience as we head towards the UN Assembly in September 2015. We think that the excerpts below will inspire you to read more and to consider how to further leverage your competencies and character in the efforts to help transform our globalizing world.

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One very important point from the GI perspective is that personal transformation is also essential for world transformation. Without it can we realistically make serious progress in the sustainable development of people, planet, and peace? This assertion was indeed one of our points in a recent presentation we did on the global context for global mental health (GMH); namely, that even as there is “no health without mental health” (a watchword for GMH advocates) there can also be no health—or development—without moral health. (GMH: Tracking and Trekking Across Sectors, inaugural conference, Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health, William James College, USA, 26 June 2015).

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The success of this 'developing agenda for sustainable development' therefore does not come only from it being developed “by and for the people” as paragraph 48 states below. It also comes from it being developed and implemented by transformed people whose character and moral courage—personal transformation—promote the global transformation being heralded. Global integrators can surely model this perspective in their lives and work.

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“28. Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace. The new Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies, based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), the rule of law and effective and accountable institutions. These are fundamental requirements for the achievement of sustainable development. Factors which give rise to violence, insecurity and injustice, such as corruption and poor governance, are addressed in the Agenda. We must redouble our efforts to resolve or prevent conflict and to support countries emerging from conflict situations so as to lay the foundations for sustainable development. We commit to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as their environment....

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43. “We the Peoples” are the celebrated opening words of the UN Charter. It is “We the Peoples” who are embarking today on the road to 2030. Our journey will involve Governments, Parliaments, local authorities, business and the private sector, the scientific and academic community, civil society – and ordinary citizens. Millions have already engaged with, and will own, this agenda. It is an agenda by and for the people – and this, we believe, will ensure its success.  

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44. The future of humanity and of our planet lies in our hands. It lies also in the hands of today’s younger generation, who will pass the torch to future generations. We have mapped the road to sustainable development; it will be for all of us to ensure that the journey is irreversible.”

JC et al.—Living in Truth 15

Restating the Obvious

10 Atrocious Genocides in Human History

(Mike Devlin, 3 May 2013, ListVerse, photo above--Bosnia)

http://listverse.com/2013/05/03/10-atrocious-genocides-in-human-history/

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 “We have reached the point in history, George Orwell said, when the first duty of intelligent people is to restate the obvious. Never has evil been so powerful, so obvious, and so destructive as in our modern world. Never has our language to describe it and our ethical will to resist it been so uncertain and so confused…Never has the responsibility of free men and women been so urgent.  Never has Edmund Burke’s admonition been more timely: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” What then should we do? The choice—and the consequences—is ours and our children’s.” Os Guinness. (2004). Never Again? You Never Know. But not through me: Seven steps to facing up to the challenge of evil and suffering. The Trinity Forum, page 6.

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“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” Jesus Christ, Luke: 16:10 NASB

Member Care and Resiliency—Part 5

High-Virtue Humans

Virtrio: A trio of core virtues.
(goodness)

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Human resiliency is the ability to face reality:

to deal with and grow through life’s challenges.

How resilient are you?

You may never know until you confront evil.

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Member care is primarily concerned with promoting health by practically supporting mission/aid workers. It involves doing good by carefully and competently helping workers grow.

At times our member care work may also require us to engage in the difficult task of confronting personal/systemic dysfunction. Big matters or even small matters, no one likes to do this. ‘Someone else will handle it,’ ‘This is too complicated,’ or ‘Just wait a bit and it will hopefully go away,’ are some of the default reasons for not getting involved. Our reticence to tackle “tough stuff” is even more apparent when the stakes are raised and we are faced with the choice of whether or not to confront serious deviance and evil.

The trio of virtues in the virtrio illustration above (perseverance, honesty, and courage) are essential for dealing with life’s challenges. These three qualities are core parts of “high-virtue humans”—virtrios humans—who excel in moral goodness. They are especially necessary when we encounter evil in all of its forms, be they blatant or disguised.

Evil is not the opposite of good but the distortion of good.

Sadly, distorted forms of good may go undetected for a long time.

Resilient virtue is needed to confront the many facets of such evil.

Resilient Evil and Resilient Virtue

Evil is also resilient. One recent example of resilient evil is the long-term fraud promulgated by Bernie Madoff. All the “good” he was doing to benefit investors-colleagues was actually faked. The deception has come back to haunt the business and banking sectors, university endowment programs, and many private citizens across the world. Unfortunately Madoff’s scheme was both resilient and malignant, a horrific combination.

Contrast Madoff’s despicable behavior to the praiseworthy actions of Harry Markopolos. Markopolos and his colleagues spent 12 years tracking Madoff, convinced about the illegitimacy of his money-making scheme. They persevered. They sought transparency (honesty). They were courageous. They were virtrios humans whose skills and resilient virtue, in spite of being ignored for years, eventually helped to expose the evil.

Trimangles

As we have seen in the previous entries, resilient people have inner strength, good social support, and a sense of purpose and/or trust in God. These qualities have been essential for several of us as we have confronted a grievous situation within parts of the international Christian community that has striking similarities to the Madoff case: major fraud. We have all had to muster plenty of virtrio (perseverance, honesty, and courage) in the face of a malicious “trimangle” of corruption (collusion, cover-ups, and cowardice). As the author of Hebrews says, ‘God hates wickedness just as much as He loves virtue’ (Hebrews 1:9, Jerusalem Bible). Created in His image, the same disdain for evil and passion for good is true for us.

Trimangle: A trio of core evils.
(corruption)

We as a group have learned that prudently confronting trimangles (unmasking/exposing/reproving darkness, as commanded in Ephesians 5:11) is not without its risks. Defamation, dismissals, and distress historically accompany the actions of virtrios humans. We have also learned that the levels of risk and fear are not the main criteria for determining whether an action is right or wrong. Do not be afraid to go public as you stand up for what is right, Christ says. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Do not fear intimidation, discrediting, loss of livelihood, and even loss of life. Your task is to be true, not popular. I will take care of you. (Matthew 10 and Luke 6, paraphrases from The Message).

Resilient virtue: perseverance, honesty, and courage

prevails against

Resilient corruption: collusion, cover-ups, and cowardice.

Governments have an important responsibility in matters that involve major deviance/evil. So also do virtrios humans in civil society (e.g., media, regulatory bodies, organizations) and the Christian community (church, mission agencies). All three entities have a major and often overlapping responsibility to deal transparently and skillfully with trimangles. The exploitation of people (corruption) via joint deception (collusion), distortions of facts (cover-ups), and avoidance of responsibility (cowardice) do not simply go away on their own. They are resilient too. The world will not be any more safe—or virtuous-- until virtrios people act to make it so.

Courage.

Trust God.

Stay the course.

May you espouse virtue and expose evil.

Quotes, Notes, and More

1. Conference. Here is a summary of a presentation that we have proposed. It complements the resiliency theme from last year’s Mental Health and Missions Conference (19-22 November 2009). The title is Future Directions for Member Care: Going and Growing as Resilient Practitioners.

“What lies ahead for the member care field, and indeed for our world at large? In this presentation we discuss future challenges and opportunities for member care. The field needs “good learners-practitioners” who are growing in their character (virtues and resilience) and competency (skills and knowledge). These folks need to be willing to “cross sectors” (e.g., international health and humanitarian sectors), cross disciplines (e.g., human resources, management), and “cross deserts” (e.g., internal journeys of faith and struggle) in order to work effectively in unstable locations often permeated with conflict and calamity. These diverse, resilient, member care workers will have clear ethical commitments as they provide/develop quality services to mission/aid personnel in many cultural settings.”

2. Book. Here is another brief quote is from John Fawcett’s edited book, Stress and Trauma Handbook: Strategies for Flourishing in Demanding Environments (2003—click here to see a book review).

“Faith-driven or secular, the workers who bring aid to individuals, families and communities are the living embodiment of a human conviction that wrongs not only must be righted, but they can be righted." (p. 1).

3. Video. Have a look at this short photo report from the World Health Organization (WHO)—2009 Year in Review: Key Health Issues. The 12 photos and brief descriptions reflect some of the concerted efforts of humanity via the WHO to tackle major health issues facing the world. Other examples of personal stories and international media reports are listed on the Media that Matters section of our Member Caravan website.

4. Tool. How courageous are you? Consider this question via Matthew 10: 24-33. Christ addresses the importance for his followers to speak the truth openly and to identify with Him publicly. Have a look and give some examples where you have had to deal with fear and act with courage.

**Don’t be afraid:
a. of being discredited and maligned (v. 26)
b. of being killed (v. 28)
c. of being undervalued and overlooked (v. 31).

**Be courageous:
a. by confessing Christ without waver (v. 32)
b. by loving Christ more than anyone (37)
c. by taking up our cross and giving your life for Christ (38,39).

5. Music. Two songs by Dougie MacLean.

Ready for the Storm. Dougie is an incredible folk musician from Scotland whose songs are creative, beautiful, and inspirational. He is joined by Kathy Mattea, another gifted musician, and others in this video version of the song, circa 1995/1996.

No No No by Dougie is a powerful call to confront those who exploit people. To listen you must purchase/download this song on the artist’s site, for about one dollar. I think it is really worth it, as is the 1990 album on which it first appeared, Whitewash.

Reflection and Discussion
1. Give an example of a vitrios human that you know. Which virtues contribute to his/her resiliency?

2. How are virtues and developing virtues related to the fruits of the Spirit and walking in the Sprit (see Galatians 5:22-25)?
3. Discuss the notion of trimangles in terms of your personal or work experience.

4. Is resilient virtue always stronger than resilient evil?

5. Which of the above “notes, quotes, and more” are the most meaningful for you and why?

Member Care and Doing Good I

The time for doing member care well, is now

A lesson from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, stave one

Marley's Ghost visits Scrooge. (written 1843, original illustration by John Leech )

This is one of the most powerful literary stories that I know:
imploring humans to do good, deploring humans for not doing good.
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The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open.
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It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley's Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.
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Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear: for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.
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Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. He looked out.

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The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free.
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Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, upon a doorstep- The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.

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Reflection and Discussion
What time is it?
1. The time for doing good, is now.
2. The time for avoiding good, is now.
3. The time for confronting evil is also now.
4. The time for ignoring evil, is now.
What time does your member care clock say?