Working Together – Shared Vision

Learn from the people
Plan with the people
Begin with what they have
Build on what they know.

Of the best leaders
When the task is accomplished
The people will remark
We have done it ourselves.

Lao Tzu

Yes, the best of it is working together. (This subject seems to be popping before me at the moment.) Working together to actualize a vision, a dream, a plan, a project. Build a house, build a community, build a garden, cook for a crowd. Or in my recent past, knit a tank top for the late Iain Robinson’s grandson. Quite a number of people contributed towards it’s eventual completion. Completed this very night.

One can think that working together means a lot of people, or a few, all in the same place at the same time doing something – BIG. And of course that is true and very enjoyable. It can also however mean a number of individuals, with particular skills or resources, living at a distance, contributing at different times to achieve a vision.

The basis of Buddhism is that Shakyamuni Buddha found Enlightenment and if he, a human being with human weaknesses and strengths, can do it we can know that too. His life is our inspiration, our lives and actions can be an inspiration to others. …and what exactly IS leadership?

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One thought on “Working Together – Shared Vision”

  1. I have now completed my first year as a Councillor here in the North West. It certainly has opened my eyes to what goes on. The many groups of all faiths dedicated to help out in our seemingly unforgiving society. With these groups, it becomes far more forgiving. I hope I have lightened the burden for some, and done enough by being there to just listen and show my face in support.

    I have recently been on a Community Bids panel. A limited amount of funding made available for projects here that forward the community and involve all. From the large church who spends much of its time working to keep folk in their homes and children playing in their gardens to the small chess club wanting help to get in a tutor for 6 year olds in a new group. They have all shown me what it is to be human. I too have got involved, community gardening and have set up a small fund to help folks to keep the wolves from the door.

    Before all of this, I had thought it some what impossible to get so much done, much of which I did not see. It reminds me of a couple of quotes from Mohammad Ali, the heavyweight boxer of his views of the impossible.

    “Impossible is just a big word thrown about by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.

    Impossible is not a fact,
    it is an opinion.
    Impossible is not a declaration,
    it’s a dare.
    Impossible is potential.
    Impossible is temporary.
    Impossible is nothing.”

    I hope that I have grown.

    I found the quote in the magazine Justify. Published by a charity called “Hope for Justice” and works tirelessly to highlight child trafficking and ways to bring it to an end.

    Many thanks for getting this far with my thoughts.

    _/\_

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