Friday, October 10, 2014, 12:12 AM - Inspiring
The Cathedral in Mainz
arm in arm
we strolled the cloisters
emptying colour
built from
bird prayers and monks
walking face to face
knowing when to step forward
knowing when to step back
words fully attended
as rare and unlikely as
our symmetry
I can still hear your voice in the corridor
Gudenkenflugem
I can still hear your voice in the corridor
our symmetry
as rare and unlikely as
words fully attended
knowing when to step back
knowing when to step forward
walking face to face
monks and bird prayers
built from
emptying colour
we strolled the cloisters
arm in arm
For Karl Osner
We lost a great man this year. One of my most inspiring mentors was an unlikely one- an elderly German man, a bureaucrat formerly studied theology. We talked about art and faith, poverty and justice. We fought a lot too. He took me under his wing but, in spite of the decades between us and our experience, always as a peer. I learned how much you can learn from a colleague who is really a friend. How important it is for our work not to talk about work. What it really means to listen.
He took me to where he grew up in the Black Forest and areas nearby. We roamed museums and churches. I wrote this poem for him after a visit with him to the Cathedral of Mainz.
Karl founded an approach based on dialogue that brought countless policy makers from Germany and parts of Europe to live and speak with marginalized families. That some of these methods have been reduced to case studies or life stories missed what he intended which was dialogue without agenda. Reflection without a log frame. Who we are in all of this and what it means. SEWA, WIEGO, Mohammed Yunus and others have captured this spirit. We are blessed to have known him and been touched by his humanity. For more on his work and life see the link below.
| related link
Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 10:39 PM - Inspiring
200 miles of bike lanes and one with 40,000 bikers a day.
| related link
Monday, March 7, 2011, 08:08 PM - Inspiring
Two miles of solar panels to power Antwerp station and Belgian train system. Will we ever catch on to Europe's green transportation systems?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... lgium-rail
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 05:04 PM - Inspiring
This small business in Toronto gets people to trade space for a flower garden and then makes local,organic and edible flowers available. Can think of all kinds of neat adaptations for community associations. What a savvy approach to local. photo: Joan Francuz.
http://www.mylusciousbackyard.ca/about.html
Friday, January 15, 2010, 07:43 PM - Inspiring
French street artist JR gives face to thousands of people on endless streets yet he himself remains anonymous. He recently won a TED prize. Awed by the vision and humbled by the humility.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011685.html
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