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Monday, January 20, 2014

The Greatest Ever


 
This morning I happened to read the description of a map featured on our “Old Maps” calendar. These words stood out to me: “The most costly book printed in the 17th century, the 12-volume Atlas Major was Joan Blaeu’s magnum opus, fulfilling the dream of his late father, Willem Janzoon Blaeu, to publish the world’s greatest atlas.”

How many of us have heard of Joan Blaeu (or his father Willem Janzoon Blaeu)? I certainly had not. In his time, his work was considered the greatest ever, but today it could never seriously be used.

How do we measure the worth of our work? I do believe that God put us on earth for a purpose – in fact, for many purposes. A fundamental shift in my own heart took place when I began to understand – as a fairly “experienced” Christian and missionary” – that passing along the news about Him was not in fact the only reason God created us. Originally, it was to be like Him, to do good, creative, innovative and exciting work, to tend to creation, to make the world a better place. In fact, whenever God calls us to do something, that is a spiritual call. He is the one who decides what to ask of us, and it is obedience that is required – not aspiring to some sort of false scale of spirituality with missionaries and pastors on top (not to mention apostles, and any new terms we invent!).

Joan and his father contributed to the world of geography, and to the knowledge that we have today, from which have come many things that I personally enjoy (although even the world’s best map at the time did not include the lovely state of Washington). Their work was good. If they did it for the Lord and in response to His call, it was very good, and I am sure God smiled on it and gave them the strength to accomplish it.

But there is still an emotional tug on me as I read the description of their work. If I succeed in my dreams, how quickly will they become history? Superseded, built upon perhaps, forgotten? If we – all who are reading this – succeed in making our works of art, literature, education, architecture, and medicine the greatest that the world has seen to date, what will that gain us in another 400 years? It is also worth asking this. Ultimately there are very few “bests” that will not be bested, records that will not be broken, greats that will not be superseded. Being the best is temporary and highly subjective. There is no lasting glory in that.

There is, however, at least one thing that will not be outdone in future generations: the effects you have on this one. Future generations cannot bless this generation. There is no one else.

It does not cease to be an honor to produce any work in response to the glory of God’s world – and especially, His call to do so. But let’s dream with the heart of God. All work is good that He gives, but let Him give you the best He has in mind for you. Love God. Love people. Let your call be shaped and molded and driven by that Love. The glory of loving others well will never fade or be outdone, on earth or in heaven, forever.

 

Monday, September 2, 2013

What Can We Do? Thoughts from Within a Western Context

To go on a bit more about the values/partnership connection, I have always loved the idea of partnership. Especially the idea. Partnerships themselves can be another story, but I love the idea! Ever since I started in missions, it’s seemed odd to me that two organizations can be in the same space and not be connected. When I was 18 and my friend Anya and I started some English classes in Ukraine – and then found out about a group of short-term missionaries doing the same thing – I insisted that we connect with them. (This turned out well, because a short time later they decided to discontinue their ESL classes, and they knew they could ask Anya to take them over. Anya lives in the US now, but the English ministry is still going.) Later I found myself working for the PAOC, but still connected to Nehemiah Ukraine. I couldn’t understand why the two weren’t “partnering” – wasn’t it enough that I (the youngest and newest member of an established international organization) knew them both well? :)

Apparently this natural inclination to connect everyone and everything I know is a result of my “connectedness” strength (per Strengthsfinder 2.0). But just because I sense hidden connections doesn’t mean that I understand how to make the most of them. And there is a lot to learn about how organizations can (or whether they ought) to work together!

One of the questions on my heart – which I knew from the beginning would not be fully answered through this practicum experience, but which is still related – is “how can western institutions of higher education collaborate with those in developing countries in ways that are both sustainable and transformational to their regions?” My practicum was, to some extent, a baby step in that direction – a step toward taking the ICCD program itself further into the empowering vision and values it champions, seeking a vision of wholeness for the world, in collaboration with that world; valuing the voices of others, and their empowerment, toward that wholeness. And out of this springs a desire to share higher education with those who are less empowered, but whose cultures and voices are vital to that vision of wholeness. After all, knowledge is power. And knowledge that is affirmed and certified by others – such as a master’s degree – is a special type of power, because it opens the door for one’s voice to be taken seriously on a global scale. And that can empower cultures. I think specifically of how Bruce Olson’s work with the Motilone has resulted in educated Motilone lawyers who are empowered to address their people’s status with the national government.

I am a westerner. It’s taken me many years to come to grips with this. J Thinking about becoming Ukrainian didn’t really make me Ukrainian; marrying a man from Argentina hasn’t made me Argentine (although I try at times, and it’s highly entertaining). I have to love my country, city, and culture, because there is no escaping them – they’re part of me even if I travel. So if the question is “What can we do”, I must start there with the western context. I assume (perhaps my connectedness drives me to assume) that there is something we as westerners have to offer in many situations. We are relatively wealthy, we speak the world’s most empowering language fluently, and many of us are driven to make a difference. But I also know that this difference must come from within each culture and context. This begs the question – what can we do to encourage that? What can we as westerners do – and particularly, as higher educational institutions or universities – to promote empowerment of indigenous leaders overseas? Certainly we can look at curriculum, make it contextual, really get into the culture… But can we even take it a step farther and actually promote the empowerment of indigenous institutions of education? (Through my practicum, I learned of two universities that do this: Eastern University and Bakke Graduate University.) And if we begin to see other higher educational institutions as cultural resources to be valued and protected, how should that shape our own agendas when entering their “territory”, so to speak? Understanding that the balance of power is generally in favor of westerners – might we who seek to empower others have a kind of moral obligation to find effective, empowering, and sustainable ways to partner with the educational institutions that are already on the ground, in places where they do exist (and where there’s a risk of exploiting that power imbalance)? Certainly knowledge itself is empowering, so in that sense there is nothing wrong with just exporting a program and filling it the less-privileged. But then again, we who have studied intercultural dynamics can always give examples of times when an action that seemed obviously helpful was actually harmful… or simply was not as helpful as it could have been, had the contextualization process been more thorough. What if knowledge could be channeled through existing institutions that truly represent the culture? Can it be done without any loss to students in terms of degree validity?

The kind of education that is worth exporting or collaborating to create must also keep transformation as the end goal. So the question is not merely about finding sustainable and empowering ways to provide education in key underserved areas, but also about making sure that the education that is provided leads to societal transformation. With that in mind, a second question that occurred to me is “What kind of higher education can bring transformation?” Or to put it another way, “How can higher education best serve the needs of the developing world? What is currently being done in higher education, and with networks?”

These are pretty big questions and issues. In the proposal to set up an online cohort with two weeks onsite in Oxford, England, we did set out a plan to collaborate with another institution (Oxford Centre for Mission Studies), but we really had no need to address the issues of power that I’m bringing up here. England is a western country too!

That said, I trust that one way or another God will carry this vision forward until we’re at a place where we do need to consider the best way to interact or partner with existing institutions in developing nations. I would love to see ICCD eventually launch cohorts in other areas of the world – and to have students from those regions that most need healthy development. It’s only right to have a global dream for a program concerned with global issues.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

A Foundation of Shared Values

It's been a couple of weeks since we turned in the New Program Proposal here at the university - the most substantial piece of my practicum (at least so far). :) Now we have to wait and see what happens next! But I've been challenged to consider what I have learned through the practicum experience...
 
First, I have to ask myself:

What did I want to learn through my practicum experience?

There were a number of questions that I set out to research; these changed over the course of the project, and included:

-          Will this degree plan be the most effective way of reaching a European audience?

-          What kind of students can we expect and where will they come from?

-          How can we tailor the degree to fit their needs?

-          What are the barriers between us and the students who we would like to take the program?

-          What’s the most effective way to market a program like this?

-          How are other schools doing it?

-          What organizational connections can we make as we go towards this?

-          How best can we communicate this internally and externally?

I am pretty happy with the answers that we came to, and most are written up now in the 62 page New Program Proposal.

I did also jot down a few larger questions that interest me along the lines of how education can be truly transformational, and serve the needs of the developing world. But in terms of my thesis, the larger question I had for this project was simply “What ought I to be asking?”  I wanted the experience to shape me, and to prompt those larger questions into being in my heart.

So - what did I learn through my practicum?

A lot of what I was doing was trying to absorb Dr. Inslee’s vision for this program well enough to project it authentically in writing. But it also had to be my own vision, and come from my own heart. (Fortunately I wasn’t too far off most of the time.) The most fascinating and puzzling times were when it seemed that we disagreed over some aspect of it, and I had figure out how to press my point, or more often, to ask the right questions so I could really understand the difference.

Strangely, perhaps, I think the most critical thing I learned was the importance of establishing a work/project/enterprise/collaboration/partnership on the basis of shared values. Even within one institution (rather than a partnership) where we can assume that everyone has good and similar values, it may not be worth it to start something new without the assurance that everyone really is on the same page as to why it is being done (shared values). There were times I wanted to skip this foundational step, prove that the program would likely be successful financially, and let it go forward. But I did eventually realize (with help) that just because something is a great vision doesn’t mean that it is worth pursuing without common values and a common commitment to why it's being done. It just isn't a very strategic use of time and energy. Issues will come up later on. It reminds me of Lowell Bakke's answer to my question - a couple years ago - about what the most critical components to a partnership are. "Shared values" was his answer, and now I can see how that works even on an institutional level.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Pinholes and Paradigms

The future site of Mustard Seed Associates building -
a center for Christian innovation in sustainability, social entrepreneurship - and TBD!
One of my favorite parts of this summer was hanging out at the Mustard Seed Associates Celtic Prayer Retreat on Camano Island this weekend. Sure, I brought home two spiders that crawled out of my wallet at Starbucks this morning, but I also brought home a huge smile, a renewed sense of inspiration/encouragement… oh, and a “click” that I’ve been waiting for about the concepts of social entrepreneurship.

Walking along through the patchy scraps of yellow light glimmering in the trees, I saw MSA staffer Cindy Todd and her daughter staring raptly into the woods. “What is it?” I asked. “Did you see the pinhole?” “What’s a pinhole?”– and then, “Ohhh, THAT’s a pinhole!” as Cindy pulled me into position to see – among the dark alders against the evening’s last yellow light – one spot of gleaming, glowing orange that changed the colors of everything. Through the forest, we could suddenly see not just the light, but the sunset.

That to me is a paradigm shift. Coming into alignment with that hole through the forest, I saw something that changed the colors of everything.

In real life, I resist paradigm shifts tooth and nail, so I am a little charmed when they happen to me anyway.* The last major paradigm shift that I still talk about constantly was Theology of Work (see my post “If I were a pastor” for a sample), and that was thanks to Lowell Bakke and Gwen Dewey and all the crazy phone conversations I got to overhear at BGU. This one comes out of the Social Entrepreneurship class that Forrest Inslee taught, and also this MSA retreat crystallizing things for me, with Tom Sine and his friends sharing their vision for a center where innovation can be incubated…

So for those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, social entrepreneurship (SE from here on out!) refers to starting businesses with a social purpose. To borrow a great definition from my professor, it’s “the practice of using entrepreneurial principles to address social problems in ways that are innovative, reproducible, and systemic in their impact” (from a course PowerPoint presentation, 2013). I came into the class this summer not exactly anti-business (because I’ve occasionally thought about starting one, although it isn’t really “me”!) and actually fairly enthusiastic to learn about how this fits into the overall vision of development. What surprised me about the class was how much variety we were cramming into those two little words. It seemed a little helter-skelter. I wanted to define it first and break it up into different kinds, get right to application, see where it’s efficient and inefficient… But you know what… Today I realized that there’s more dreaming and visioning that can happen - that needs to happen - before that’s really possible! That’s my paradigm shift for the summer: it’s GOOD that this SE term embraces and creates a hunger for everything that is innovative and sustainable. Especially innovative. We need new ways of doing things. We – and here I mean the Church – desperately need to think creatively!

This is a paradigm-shift in progress for me. So a little scary to write about. Stay tuned! :) I do know I’m not talking about opening up a church coffee shop so we can all stop giving. (In case anyone actually thinks like that. Hopefully not. And probably just trying that would cure them of it.) I am talking about intentionally seeking ways to be creative - desperately creative, filled with the creativity of God’s Spirit – about everything we do, especially in connection with the Church.

I also realized through this that Church is a key area for me when it comes to paradigms. Somehow most of my important pinhole moments line up through that lens. It must be close to my heart. I do care deeply about the Church and am often frustrated by the difference between what I would like to see happen and what is happening. I may not even know what I would like to see happening, but my intuition (and common sense) tells me it’s not always happening. Of course, I’m not talking about MY church here (though I suppose it isn’t perfect either, but I still love it) – I’m really talking about the worldwide Body of Christ. (Oddly, this soft spot for the Church is a huge part of why I care about higher ed. But perhaps that ties in first to the TOW pinhole/paradigm shift.) I'm unsettled until I find that new way of seeing things that provides a window of hope for the future. Whenever I see something that will make the Church come closer to that image of beauty and maturity and radiance that we in the Church would call the Bride of Christ - that’s a pinhole. A paradigm shift. And it pours the golden-orange light of hope in my path.

Here’s to more innovation, more hope, more pinholes, and more woods lit up with orange!

MSA Staffers Cindy Todd, Tom Sine (in chair at middle), and Andy Wade, with other retreat friends

* Of course, by real life I mean my internal life… because I’m an intuitive, for those of you who like Myers-Briggs... although those of you who like M-B could spot that a mile away anyway.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Progress...

We were able to get a couple more weeks (that is, one more now) to work on the initial New Program Proposal, since one of the key people who will need to see it is out of town. That's great because it seems to take me awhile to find the right words to put things in... and I don't want to leave anything key out of it. Also, while the proposal itself isn't so complicated to write, the process really helps me wrap my mind around the larger principles of what is best for this kind of educational expansion. Even though it's easy to get wrapped up in this particular goal (online ICCD!) - and I do - I'm using also it to refine my vision for what ought to happen globally in higher education. And the best way to do that is to look at the needs and talk to some key players in those areas of need, globally. For instance: the fight against human trafficking. I'm thrilled to be making some amazing connections in these areas and having some great conversations about how this kind of education can affect that particular big picture.

What's your take on this?

  • When you think about things that can transform the world, how does education fit in?
  • Who are the people who most need a program like International Care and Community Development in order to be more effective?
  • What are the obstacles stopping them from being in the program? (Any besides the obvious - money, accredited education, and language?)
  • What creative solutions can you think of to these issues?
  • How might social entrepreneurship provide answers to these issues - starting with finances for students? How could a program like ICCD really work that in from the beginning?

Friday, July 5, 2013

Crunch time!

We have set a timeline of just a week and a half for my New Program Proposal form to be written - and we've brushed aside the clutter of half a dozen less-important pieces of research that could have fed into it, but needn't for now... Yay! Thank You Lord... I am nervous that after all I may not have done enough real research to write yet. Both audience (intended student market) and product have been like a moving target at times! Talking with Professor Barry Otterholt today I realized that these two affect each other: the product must be adapted to fit the audience/market, but the audience/market may change to fit the newly created product as well.

Who is our ultimate market/audience? For whom we are creating an online ICCD anyway?

For the development-minded leaders who really are in a place to make a difference... all over the world... and for those they can bless through their work done right: creatively, humbly, with cultural competence, critical thinking, and attention to issues of justice.

And for those they can bless. For those who need empowerment. For those who would otherwise be harmed by development or mission done poorly. For those are suffering. For those who can rise up and empower others tomorrow.

So Lord, I pray that you would strengthen my hands in order to write these words and to wisely organize the related tasks… and to do this for you... and I pray for the students who need a perspective change and a paradigm shift in order to be transformed and to become transformational leaders within cultures, and to do the kind of work that brings wholeness into a culture, a church, a city, or a country… Please bless the work of my hands Lord (and the sacrifice of these rare sunny days!) – do a good work through me in this project and let it be for you… something that accomplishes on earth the things that are truly important to you. Fill me with your Spirit and the joy of your Spirit and the creativity of your Spirit (ha – and the efficiency of your Spirit!) in this work. I love you Lord! Amen.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Thesis Thoughts

Good questions that occur to me for a future thesis...

1) How can western institutions of higher education collaborate with those in developing countries in ways that are both sustainable and transformational to their regions? (In spite of power imbalances.)

2) What kind of higher education can bring regional transformation? (What are the important characteristics?)
  • sustainable
  • collaborative
  • contextual
  • global
  • spiritual
  • high quality
  • community-oriented
  • student-centered
  • teacher-led
4) Case study of Northwest University's Master of Arts in International Care and Community Development program?