Saretta Fielding's 2014 Ray Ban winning artwork featured on limited edition "Wayferers" to celebrate 'seeing' in physical, spiritual and all ways!! The win allowed Saretta to devote full time attention to her art, online and pop up stores!!
I acknowledge that I live and work on the land with which the Awabakal people share a special relationship. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and being formed for the future! I celebrate their holding and sharing of their culture, history and stories!
*Apologies that the names and images of deceased indigenous people appear in this post as a celebration of life in ways permission was at one time given.
Today I am thinking of: Donna Meehan and her wonderful community work; Stanley Moylan and his crafting and custodianship of the Didge (carrying on from Mick Davison and others); Aunty Zelma Moran and her achievements in Health Administration and Hockey and her energy for NAIDOC, telling her story and much more; the wonderful art of Saretta Fielding and the many other stories shared through ABC Local Radio's "Meet the Mob"!! Read about that project and access the stories here
Hopes this Australia Day that we:
- Heal the scar on our country's soul by giving voice and power to indigenous people
- Move beyond the short term political cycle and see a vision for the common good
- Celebrate and embrace faith in that which brings abundant life for all
- Value teaching and education beyond crude measurement
- Leave behind irrational fear building wider tables not bigger walls
- Reject the politics of race, fear, exclusion and three word slogans
- #free Hakeem Hakeem Al-Araibi the detained footballer #whereisFIFA
- Find a more compassionate policy for refugees and people seeking asylum
- Build resilient communities
- Remember every person has a story and everyone's story is worth hearing
That'll do for today, perhaps our currently divided news and media commentary along lines of left and right needs moderating voices and xenophobic political views need challenging!!
This and so much more to celebrate:
- Climate and environment, don't trash it
- Stable enough political system to withstand current low ebb, vote for values
- Sport and life, get into it and value the precious moments
- Arts, always in need fo funding and equality
- Freedoms, we do take for granted
- Larrikin humour and appropriate 'tall poppy' syndrome
- Distrust for corruptible authority... fair enough
- Opportunities and safety nets
- Community by and large valued and embraced
Yet, at the same time:
- The gap between rich and poor grows
- Crime and the motives
- Social dislocation and problems are growing
- Impacts and loss of indigenous community
- Shattered Islander dreams for so many of their children
- Cruel inhumane failure towards refugees and people seeking asylum
- Religious intolerance
- Racism & fear expressed most unhelpfully by Pauline Hanson and others
- Lack of visionary political leadership
"Beds Are Burning" Midnight Oil
Out where the river broke
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty five degrees
The time has come To say fair's fair
To pay the rent To pay our share
The time has come A fact's a fact
It belongs to them Let's give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
The time has come...
Four wheels scare the cockatoos
From Kintore East to Yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degrees
The Stiff Gins and the Sydney Childrens Choir performed together at TEDx Sydney in the Carriageworks at Redfern AND it was electric live!! The music and comedians punctuated a brilliant day of speakers telling their stories and this was an absolute highlight!! The various songs all had stories of family, long cultural history and spoke of the depth of indigenous society.
It seems we appreciate: dot paintings; decorated Qantas Jets; football jerseys; music; and sometimes Welcomes to Country at community events BUT is that really where it ends?
That can't be good enough...
The Sydney 2000 Olympics were a great example of what can be done in relationship with a shared vision and integrity in action. The Organisers and Creatives shared a hope to include, celebrate and give appropriate space for the indigenous history of this country. Some may remember murmurings of protest in the lead up but good work was done to say "just trust us, participate and watch the story unfold." True to their word the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the two weeks, the cultural space and everything about the Games showed sensitive and collaborative recognition. Even Midnight Oil, being themselves, wanted to play a current single in the Closing Ceremony but were convinced "Bed are Burning" was the song to play, not just because it was their world breaking song. So began their clandestine idea for the 'Sorry Suits" with the word "Sorry" (covered by velcro/material until the last moments before taking the stage)!! At the time our PM was well known for arguing we shouldn't say sorry for something that wasn't our doing. The possible power of acknowledging structural and historical impacts, seeking reconciliation and being vulnerable by giving away power, was lost on him. Instead we heard about "practical reconciliation" which is code for doing what we want with little regard for the hopes of those directly effected by our policy in action.
That can't be good enough...
Empathy, non judgement, shared hopes and openness to hear indigenous stories genuinely could be the making of Australia... People I've met, experiences I've had and stories I've heard have changed my life!! "Just get over it!"
That can't be good enough...
In my own sphere the Biblical concept of "Jubilee" is relevant... it's where land was returned to the families who owned it before (every fifty years) so wealth was gained but shared... and then redistributed. If families experienced hardship it could be addressed with generosity across generations... This gave rise to the global Jubilee 2000 movement seeking for countries and the IMF to cancel third world debt that was crippling struggling economies in ways that could see them never prosper... the principles apply...
Anyhow, one day we will be mature enough to explore this, kids will learn the stories at school and it'll seem crazy that we didn't deal with the relationships by 'giving up power' and focusing on resilience and thriving communities everywhere (by shared definition of what that looks like)...
"Lucky Country" Midnight Oil live at "Tanelorn" October 1981 (courtesy MOMO)
All my mates went... I had too much Uni work to do and no money!!
A mature country would understand a day that's equal parts celebration and lament!
The celebration of how fortunate we are to live in the best country on the planet is a worthy moment for reflection, fun and dressing up in your third world sweat shop pluggers and bikini/boardies adorned with the nation flag so you can sit your backside on the Union Jack all day!!
BUT seriously, how good is our: climate; natural geography; coastal and rural life; flawed but peaceful democracy (where even the currently sad bunch don't seem to be able to completely ruin everything); cultural richness; diversity; and overarching values!!
How gloriously some are getting it so wrong in the current neoliberal age...
Our own PM was banging on about Citizenship Ceremonies and Dress Codes and him wanting it to be about us 'all coming together.' It's like telling someone that's fallen over that you want them 'to have a pain free knee.'
Now comes the $7 million plan to commemorate Captain Cook's (apparently airbrushed in) circumnavigation... it was Flinders who did that wasn't it? It's like an episode of "Yes Prime Minister," seriously!! Incidentally, how many of us knew that on Flinders third journey he was accompanied by Kuringgai man Bungaree, an accomplished indigenous sailor from the Broken Bay area?
At the same time "the great southland could be as great as the one it could have been" if by 1988 (at least) we had properly addressed our history of colonisation. It is 'history' BUT we second peoples continue to benefit from this land without appropriate recognition of the first peoples. There has been progress, but it's not up to the dominant culture to decide how free, valued, or appreciated an invaded people are or should be.
Everyone has their story but surely the 'big story' is one where colonisation has brought great change and massive problems along with it. The scar on the soul of this country needs legitimate action, words and power to reflect the rich culture, wisdom and relationship that existed tens of thousands of years before we came, yet has been at risk ever since!! Still, we can't fix what we don't understand, except by listening and then responding appropriately!
Acknowledgement
Reconciliation
Recognition
Truth telling
Treaty
Self determination
Resources
Celebration
I'll celebrate but also lament and commit myself to do more and be more in relation to reconciliation!!
Instead we all have our own preoccupations!!
"Lucky Country" Midnight Oil
Speed, and this
There's a feeling I get when I look to the sun
Love, it's so tough
Cause it raises your hopes and then it makes you run
We're all looking for a shorter day
We're all looking for an easy way
Even when the debts are dead and gone
Down, the stairs
And an eight mile drive waits for you to turn on
Hear, the time clocks sing
And the smoke in the distance reaches the eye line
We're all working on a shorter day...
No conversation as you go
There's so much space the heat moves you
Terracotta homes, backyard barbeque and eucalyptus smell
It's fine on the clothes line
It's fast food and slow life and red roof
My silence, comic interruptions
Surely there's some relief from atomic art
And the fragile state of world events
With clowns who love the kings and power and the mutant media babes
Wanking on dreams and fashions and toilet paper flowers
Don't talk to me in this backyard - it's clandestine, it's nuclear
Smell of space and now forever I want to go
Straight down the exit eight mile attraction
you-turn is up and the time clock sings lets go
Lucky country...
Where the geckos are paid to live in the sun
On and on there's a ribbon of road and a mile to spare
I thought last year was pretty lean for original, creative and engaging movies! It feels to me like 2018 was worse with the bright spots being quite memorable. The other thing that marked this year was the number of 'days off' where I was too tired to commit to a film (unless it was unmissable). A bit like it being too much time to commit to not getting rest... Anyhow, via cinema, iTunes, Netflix or friends here's my list. I don't pursue the serious or arthouse films, catching them when I can...
2018
Mollys Game, interesting
The Post, a terrific story
The Commuter, generic but engaging
Black Panther, outstanding
Game Night, mindless clever fun
Pacific Rim Uprising, I thought it couldn't be worse than the original, I was wrong
Tomb Raider, it was OK just
Paul, Apostle of Christ, not engaging enough, I fell asleep
Red Sparrow, bizarre, script must have read OK, poor execution
Borg v McEnroe, good film
Ready Player One, loved it
Blockers, time filler
I Feel Pretty, about ten minutes worth seeing, they let the premise down
Avengers Infinity War, great moments
Solo: A Star Wars Story, I really enjoyed it, I go with low expectations
1984 Midnight Oil, just an amazing documentary of the era I got into the Oils
Adrift, gripping but got bored
TAG, great entertainment, based on true legend
Oceans 8, pretty good
Jurrasic World Fallen Kingdom, I liked it better than I thought I would
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, loved it
Ant Man and the Wasp, surprisingly good, see I'm not a fan of the cast
Skyscraper, time filler
Equalizer 2, love these films and I don't usually like Denzel
Mission: Impossible Fallout, mindless gripping fun
First Man, probably my fav. 2018 film
Beirut, gritty painful and informative
Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald, almost as good as it could have been
The Predator, seemed a good idea
A Simple Favour, a surprise packet, lost their way, found it again
Ladies in Black, loved it
Still on my list or computer The House with a Clock in Its Walls A Star is Born Bohemian Rhapsody
Boy Erased
The Girl in the Spiders Web
Creed 2
Mary Poppins Returns Aquaman Mortal Engines* Bumblebee* very poor reviews so marginal postscript, caught up on these so far
Our fifth edition of "Weekend OUT" happened over the weekend.
An intergenerational weekend for full and part time participants. It's learning, discipleship, temporary community and fun for children & families, youth and adults with a focus on the children and youth!! Here's the typical template for the program:
The heart of the weekend is the "All Together Time" as a community, followed by aged based groups exploring the theme and discipleship further... The site we use has adventure equipment and we're able to have in Instructor in the afternoon for the 'Flying Fox' that's a hit!! We hire an all age Jumping Castle, it's a self catered weekend and each year there's been some additional special focus like: War On Waste; Indigenous Issues; Refugees' and a Forum with [2] women from Newcastle's Muslim community. That forum gave us an idea we finally managed this year...
Lunch, intentional group activity and then the invitation to try some sports and the flying fox all afternoon from Muslim families from Newcastle!! It was a brilliant time of unity and understanding!!
We had 100 punters, 20 adult Muslim guests and 15 of their kids!! The weekend is supported with funding from the Hunter Presbytery of the UCA, it's Education Committee and an Innovative Grant each year from 'Uniting.' It makes for an affordable weekend for all participants!!
To be fair our current model is 'unsustainable' as it's organised by small team, contributed to by a range of busy people who do great things on the weekend BUT everyone is 'too busy'!! If it's to continue in 2019 we will need to engage a network of our congregations sharing the planning and potentially expanding that participation to the north of the Sydney-Central Coast Presbytery!! This can include timing, site and other aspects!!
My main interest has always been the "All Together Time." It's a creative, tactile, story based time of learning, worship and community exploring our discipleship through the yearly theme. "TIME" in 2018!! Ecclesiastes, Kairos time, our use of time, Jesus a person if his time with a timeless call and message of hope...
Here's what we did Saturday 9.15 to 10.30
Music Group played a song as people arrived
1. Video "Clocks" Coldplay (spliced together with Newcastle One Song Sing at Carrington Bowlo)
2. Music Group led (3) Songs
3. Acknowledgement of the Awabakal People
I talked about Aunty Zelma (whose video we watched at W/OUT 2013) that I met at NAIDOC Week this year, still going strong!! AND read Neil Murray's lyrics as Prayer for his song "Native Born"
4. "A TIME" Reading with 10 people
“A TIME”
ONE For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
TWO A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
THREE A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
FOUR A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
FIVE A time to throw away stones,
And a time to gather stones together;
SIX A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
SEVEN A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
EIGHT A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace.
NINE There’s a time for Netflix, Snapchat and Youtube
A time for activities and friends
TEN Is there a time for justice, a time for community and love
A time for following Jesus and growing or practicing faith
5. Movie Collage "TIME"
6. Sorting Groups
We lined up youngest to oldest and numbered off ten all age groups
7. Storytime was marked by the playing of the first few bars of "Bakerman" Midnight Oil
We read "Drought" Jackie French/Bruce Whateley (now I've used Flood and Fire as well)
Then each group was given a sheet of yellow cardboard (the newsagent had run out of ochre or grey)
And an envelope with scissors, glue sticks and black and white copies of a drought map and newspaper stories (can you believe I printed double copies of 40 photos and forgot to get them out)
Each group made a collage cutting up what they chose, talked about Drought and together wrote a one or more line prayer about the people and issues... I'll be buying the book BUT how great are Public Libraries!!!
8. Heather Price sang her brilliant song "My Lords Prayer" (we joined in 2nd time)
Our lunch.afternoon visitors plan was explained...
9. Music Group led (2) songs... and we went to morning tea and age based groups
10. People went out to the sound of "Turn Turn Turn" The Byrds
Here's what we did Sunday 9.15 to 10.30
1. Video “Love is Bigger Than Anything in It’s Way” U2/Beck
2. Music Group again led (3) songs Communal Singing
3. Open Prayer, A few words
4. Movie Collage Sun "TIME 2"
5. “TIME” Biblical Reflections (5 voices) postponed from yesterday..
ONE For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; to break down, to build up; to weep, to laugh; to mourn,
and to dance; And so much more,
As we live through the Greek idea of ‘chronos’ time or chronologically,
measured like our sweeps around the sun, limited and connected to past, present and future…
God lives and breathes ‘kairos’ time, including the intricacy of the creation itself,
It’s a sense of ‘the right time’ or appointed time, not so much defined by past present or future…
TWO And often followers of Jesus or communities of faith get a sense of God’s timing
A word, a movement of people, an opportunity
In a nearby community of faith while some discussed a “Fix It” Festival,
suddenly a community group providing food for those in need, a repair café and a network of like minded people has sprung up…
One couple are keen to offer a monthly community meal and a group of six people came and asked if their existing activity could bring that into the church hall, kitchen and community,
wow, instant match!!
THREE Mark 1: 14-15
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news.”
Jesus, became one of us, lived this life and shows us what God is like…
It’s like an ancient collision between the secular and the sacred,
between God’s values and our sometimes stubborn ways.
FOUR Romans 5: 1-8
5 By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. 2 Christ has also introduced us to God’s undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. 3 But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. 4 And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope 5 that will never disappoint us.
All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.
In the ‘kairos moment’ of the cross, Jesus standing in solidarity with humanity,
reminds us of God’s unshakable love
FIVE 2 Peter 3
8 Dear friends, don’t forget that for the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years,
and a thousand years is the same as one day. We should always live our days looking for those moments, those inexplicable times when His will and his way intersect with our daily walks.
And they can happen anytime! A friend calls you out of the blue to give a good word.
A child's innocent joy pierces a long, hard day of struggle.
A coworker takes a moment to lend a hand.
God is always surprising us with his perfect, kairos timing.
Jesus was of his time and yet timeless like HOPE
Like any relationship our following involves investing TIME
Taking our relationship deeper, like a 1km deep and wide,
not paper thin and built purely on history or memory… kairos time
6. I cancelled the planned Video Clip “Holy Moly Zacchaeus Edit” 4min 44
7. Storytime Intro “Bakerman” Midnight Oil 12sec
8. Storybook “The Flying Orchestra” Clare McFadden
And a few comments...
9. Story Sharing Crate (20min)
Check out the items/choose one or more that helps you tell a story about you/ in groups...
10. Video “Just Pray Lords Prayer UK” 1min Worship
11.Communal Singing #2 7min
Then, “Turn Turn Turn” The Byrds background as people leave...
With the two group times as a centrepiece there was a little less collaborative liturgy/prayer and we were too under resourced for me to get some video-ing happening along those lines.
It seems only yesterday I was collaborating on a local Funeral celebration that was in fact last Friday, a full week ago!! In the meantime we've had our annual frantic meeting for Weekend Out (because too few of us join the longer term planning team for the event and are left with so much to do)!! It means we have lots of ideas about how to do the event differently and better but lack the people power to have the conversations and make the contacts to do it... don't get me wrong, the basics of the weekend make it brilliant BUT it's the 'ducks on water paddling below the surface' that makes it work and only the team of 3-5 know how hard that is... Move forward into this week and I've had a cold for the second week and needed to sleep for two days basically... no pressure!!
Still crook today but improving... it just pushes crate packing and equipment gathering back to the last minute so I'm not exhausted. Rant over!!
What a week... Fraser Anning becomes a punchline for his awful maiden speech in Parliament. Sadly he reflects the views of too many Australians, but it's based on fear and 'getting it wrong' in a modern global world. Alongside that he united opponents in condemnation, but that's hypocritical given our policy on "stopping the boats" that doesn't... I see Anning's staffer has resigned, so it was his phrasing to add 'final solution' to the speech by the sounds...
It's Bledisloe Cup week for Sydney... no chance of attending live with W/Out in a week and remembering how much better the Wallabies were 12 months ago BUT how the series got blown away in the first half go this first game... so important!!
Can Taf throw straight?
Do our second row stack up v Whitelock/Retallick?
Can we get on the front foot?
Can we not have any yellow cards?
Will Izzy have a breakout game?
Pocock?
Kurtley Beale, Man of the Match?
So if I head out and work today will my energy go backwards or is getting into the sun and steadily doing 'just enough' a good thing? I'll let you know...
Movies so far this year (as well as a few catch up films in January) I'm down on numbers for two reasons, poor films and often choosing sunshine and time out...
"Black Panther" great story and a revelation in the telling
"Red Sparrow" 2 hours I'll never get back
"Milly's Game" gripping story
"Tomb Raider" had a few good moments
"Pacific Rim Uprising"
All the talk was about it being different to the awful original, it was, it was worse...
Worse still it started Ok with a good premise and then just got worse and worse
"Paul, Apostle of Christ"
Arty retelling with a time period focus that for me needed a broader arc
"Ready Player One" not what I expected but enjoyable
"Midnight Oil 1984" Documentary, life story, brilliantly captured historic time
"Blockers" Train trip fodder
"Game Night" could have been a classic with some better casting but the idea was clever
"Avengers Infinity War"
Great way to escape for over 2 hours. Almost too many characters. Brilliantly crafted ending.
"Solo: A Star Wars Story"
I really liked this film and can't quite understand the negativity. A few weak moments.
"Ant Man and the Wasp"
Good fun, great chase scenes, clever premise not quite as good as it could have been. Stan Lee cameo a winner...
"Equalizer 2" Wow, no real surprises and a couple of clunky moments but good time out considering Denzel is hit and miss for me... he does tension well!!
Looking forward to being entertained by the new Mission Impossible and it's stunts... wonder where the next bio pic, history or drama will come from in a world of sequels and remakes? Better catch up on 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society."
Andrew Denton has returned to our TV screens on free to air (albeit commercial) television and like many British shows and others that have tried the leap from the ABC, it suffers for me thanks to the Ad breaks. "Everyone has a story and everyone's story is worth hearing!"
I still claim Andrew stole this from me after a chat in the studio years ago at "Enough Rope" where he sought to interview captivating well known people but also 'ordinary people' whose stories we might never have caught...
"Interview" uses the quirky designer chair/colour to link the different stories and simplify promotion. Andrew intermingles the famous with everyday people and their vocations, offering long form stories they hope will resonate and rate!!
Tuesday at 8.45pm-ish is a weird time slot and for me the Ad breaks only serve to highlight the percentage of guests who do have a new book or record to flog... something he avoided more effectively on the ABC. It's still great and the questions and time allow people to get comfortable and share more deeply!! It's not quite 'Enough Rope!!'
I'm following up the Facebook challenge (sharing ten albums that made an impact on me and still get a listen) with an album of the week. It's one I choose as a feature for the week's listening!!
Last week was "Ceremonials" Florence and the Machine and this week it's "Rush of Blood to the Head" Coldplay. Stunning album (they're rock but not) and the instruments and Chris Martin's equal parts annoying and inspiring singing are polished on this follow up to "Parachutes."
Tracklist: 1."Politik" 2."In My Place" 3."God Put a Smile upon Your Face" 4."The Scientist" 5."Clocks"
6."Daylight"
7."Green Eyes"
8."Warning Sign"
9."A Whisper"
10."A Rush of Blood to the Head"
11."Amsterdam"
And the first five tracks stand out as classic tunes, just great listening in the car or on a lazy day!!
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!
Old 16mm footage, current day interviews, the NDP and the sense of the time with nuclear threat feeling very real. As one punter has put it, this was our Oils, the relentless tour for "Red Sails in the Sunset" just before the world embraced them in 1986/7.
It's exactly the time my mates made me listen to the Oils and I was hooked!!! So that album and 10 to 1 were on high rotation everywhere I went and especially in the Unit at Islington. The docs threads different concerts together with seamless versions of the songs and the result is a sublime cinema viewing!! I will pre-oredr my DVD from Madman Film but if you get the chance, see the film this weekend at the movies!!!
Spoiler Alert....
Michael Lippold, former stage manager, is a huge hit with his 1980's denim shorts, insights and sheer enthusiasm! Jim Moginie's description of what it was like to be in the band was spine tingling...
Finishing with 1986 and Ray Argall's footage for "Beds are Burning" points to the worldwide take off and invites 'what could have been' if Peter had been elected to the Senate back then...
Avengers Infinity Wars, yeah it's OK
Breath, one book I couldn't put down
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Last Flag Flying (might wait for digital)
Gurrumul
Deadpool 2
Solo: A Star Wars Story, really looking forward to Ron Howard's rescue mission
Oceans 8
Jurassic World
Ant Man and the Wasp
Mission Impossible, in there somewhere
The only good thing about winter is northern hemisphere movie season from Canne through to summer!!
"Grounded Questions" Mark Strom
25 statements to prompt reflection, conversation and change
You might like to work them through individually and as a team:
How true is each statement?
rarely... too little... somewhat... fairly often... almost always
You seek counsel from people who are wise more than from those you want to impress.
You search for insight more than for the latest hot tip.
You discern when to lead and when to follow.
You discern language by which colleagues rob themselves of power and dignity.
You foster language that strengthens and dignifies colleagues.
You sustain reasonable hope in the face of unreasonable despair.
You discern when management processes impede creativity and relationship.
You present ideas using strong questions, engaging stories, and real dialogue.
You reanimate flagging conversations and projects with clear, strong questions.
You keep the core conversations vibrant, coherent and outward-focused.
You sustain commitment to people when the core conversation breaks down.
You honour the stories that have shaped your team and organisation.
You approach vision and strategy with clear, strong questions.
You frame vision in terms of a richly imagined and grounded story.
You frame strategy in terms of a compelling argument for that story.
You influence for good via informal but intentional networks.
You break cynicism with acts of dignity and kindness.
You create space for others to shine.
You give credit where credit is due.
You foster design thinking by encouraging brilliance.
You seek the ‘brilliance in the room’ before ‘best practice elsewhere’.
You treat people with dignity and kindness no matter their position or context.
You sustain integrity and will in the face of unjust opposition and passive aggression.
You value character and depth over personality and cleverness.
Reflections on leadership in recent days (that explore 30 years I guess) that could be more than one chapter in "It's Not Rocket Science" as I've walked, holidayed, collaborated, prioritised and prepared. They don't relate to any (1) situation, don't all reflect how I'm feeling today (but some of them do):
- Recently I was thinking "it must be wonderful to go through life seemingly without reflecting on the impact of your words and actions on others, the nature of community or relationships." What you think, know and believe are clearly most important, it's not even a question. Sadly, even giving a second thought as to what others are saying or feeling can be a costly exercise...
- "What other people think of you is none of your business"
Having once read that and had it explored many years ago listening to a particular workshop leader I have often reflected on how I feel about that or whether it's right in essence. In context it's trying to say, if you're focused on doing and being your best, offering what insight you have, the relationship you're able to bring etc then how that's perceived or received is up to 'the other.' I often stop from saying something or give a glimpse of me or my thought, knowing there's more to what I'm saying, more to be said, more to be done, openness to continue the conversation... But if that doesn't happen, is that an accurate reflection of me or of what's going on, in my own head and heart, let alone in the given relationship or situation. Suppose you say about half of what could be said in a situation... what does it mean if the 'other' goes away thinking less of you because the rest is not said OR for example if it's a value you're holding to without articulating that... is it 'enough' that this is the case without others necessarily being aware of that. What is 'lack of confidence', what is 'keeping confidence' what is being circumspect and how many times can you get annoyed you knew exactly what you wanted to say just after the moment to say it felt genuinely to have passed... This is particularly poignant when you are working at being more assertive without necessarily feeling any more capable of having the right insight (feeling out on a limb). I think what other people think of me is my business, I just can't write the narrative, I can only be as honest, transparent and humble as possible and if they don't 'get it' then that IS their business (or something like that)...
- Leading by seeking to share "power with" is harder
- Making space for the leadership of others doesn't always work out and mostly that's not your fault
- Explosive gestures backed up by avoidance (of the issues and the lack, because to correct it wouldn't fit the narrative) show immaturity masquerading as vulnerability. This makes it hard to appropriately care for the vulnerability.
- In difficult communications it is true there's content and process. An issue that's hard to resolve because of different perspectives soon isn't about the issue/s but about trust (an elusive idea to some), listening, being heard and working through that... it's hard when you believe few can see it... it's harder when people trash the process out of frustration and it looks like the content caused it. Making wise decisions includes dealing with the process as well as the content. Everyone has a role and responsibility in that... you can only do your part!!
- Interestingly though, the hard work starts when you're part is to know that how you/others respond or the questions you ask and invitations you offer, make a difference. e.g. When someone offers an idea do you 'shut it down' or ask clarifying questions... do you simply state your different view or are you able to hold a few ideas together until decision time when you can help sift?
- Enjoy the times when the problems you're helping solve were caused by someone else
- Learning to ask 'grounded questions' (like this advocated by Mark Strom) can transform many planning or evaluative discussions. “A grounded question makes us reach behind abstract explanations into lived experience. Abstract questions only need bullet points. Grounded questions take us to stories”
- Ethics have never been more important
- Whose model are you following and how can you articulate that are important
- Listen (for a change)
Postscript:
For me leadership is about relationships and 'gifts'. It's striving to use your gifts and to develop other skills and work on the other side to your natural style. It's hard work!! It does mean more focus on people and processes than content so that needs to be intentionally addressed but not at the expense of what you 'bring.' It's not only in counselling and social work that people want to be known, not to just be problems to be sorted. In my vocation it's about modelling/following/imitating the ethos and values of Jesus, his life's story, teaching and example... more values we'd like to be known by, less corporate business planning we'd ike to co-opt!!
Glen Hansard's music is always (since hearing him play at Greenbelt 2008) audibly brilliant but I love this slightly brittle yet determined song... I was striding along to it yesterday on my walk around Lambton Park.
A conversation today about my email sign offs reminded me not only of this timeless song but this great clip from a fundraiser gig.... love how the crowd can't help but get up and how good this clip is on limited PA via a phone!!! "Self explanatory" indeed...
"Best Of Both Worlds"
You say times are tough
We've got the best of both worlds here
Things are rough
We've got the best of both worlds here
Times are tough
We've got the best of both worlds
The real world is not as calm as it appears to be from here
The old world is not as safe with the new world closing in
The great south land can be as great as the one it could have been
The one it could have been
The real world is not as calm as it appears to be from here
The small world is not as strong and the testing ground is near
The old world is not as strong as the one we could have seen
The great south land can be as great as the one it could have been
The one it could have been
The Oils nail the Opening to their Armistice Day gig in Sydney!!!
Still can't believe how ago they were in the Hunter and at the Domain... Oooooiiiiiiillllsss!!
Hat Tip: Stephanie Morgan
Top 5 of my favourite Midnight Oil songs and this compilation clip shows lots of different settings, eras and energies! This is for those feeling flat, disappointed, looking for resilience or space to build up their energy again!!! Many times I've stood amongst people shouting the lyrics with Peter and you get that sense of people's strength, defiance and hope!!
As much a part of the hoopla as the game itself (and the 'Pepsi' Half Time Show) are the incredibly expensive (and therefore carefully created) TV ads for Super Bowl LII in Minnesota... seemingly now all leaked or pre promoted before "The Big Dance"*
*Editors rant:
You can 'just' get away with referring to the American Football NFL Championship Game as "The Big Dance" but certainly not the AFL GF or your local area Rugby Union GF. The metaphor is most often sourced to an NCAA Basketball Finals Series where it was first 'coined' and is co-opted by NFL commentators BUT it's not for other sports and certainly not necessary in Aussie sport...
Grand Final, GF, the Big One or the Decider will do thanks...
Take a look...
And just to see how scarily good Coke are at advertising carbonated sugar, flavours and chemicals...
Today I acknowledge the Awabakal people and the people of the many nations and the intricate culture/s and family systems that make up our indigenous people in Australia. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and being formed for the future. Their 'songlines', stories and gentle spirit could be the making of this country one day.
I'll celebrate today with a pie, a lamington (and I'll overdo it with a Hoadley's Violet Crumble) and have some small tender lamb steaks for the bbq tonight with the coleslaw... Aussie as...
As I have twice this week I will almost shed a tear for the disregard of the many over the choice of this date and it's reinforcement in my lifetime of shifting from the nearest Monday to the actual day each year. There is no peace without justice!!
I'm with Senator Penny Wong, "when we are at our best, we the country other countries in the world want to be"!! One example is the hosting of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. It's no accident that event did the work to listen, to include and to pay respect to our indigenous history. It allowed the representation to not be token or 'captured' without relationship.
My other highlight this week came from Jim Courier's second invitation to Chung Hyeon at the tennis, to speak to fans in his first language and this was embraced by all present. This is the country we could be and sometimes are...
Here's my obvious choice of song for today, "The Dead Heart" Midnight Oil with a bonus video from "The Making of Midnight Oil" Curators Workshop with Ross Heathcote and Rob Hirst et al. Rob explains the genius of their songwriting approach in coming up with this track. Hat Tip Jim Moginie for the end result!! Midnight Oil speaking truth to power and garnering support for the voiceless... We have choices that could be life giving if we listened instead of being offended...
Next I'm watching "Songlines" on NITV from 11.10am...
Here it is live from the MCG Bushfire Relief Concert in 2009!!
Making up a Hottest 100 List seems to be a bit controversial this year (rightly so)!!
Apparently you can just make this stuff up no matter your expertise, politics or whatever!!
As it happens I would support a holiday celebration on the last Monday in January. Kind of what it used to be but after it used to be June or July. A unifying day chosen for it's purpose, not it's historical connections. This would allow maximum chance for everyone to celebrate and yet be close enough for those choosing to focus on lament, without the pain being exacerbated. One day we will listen and respond
I have already shared my seven songs leading up to but not including the 26th...
BUT to remove contention I have sorted my Hottest 100 autobiographically!!!
1."April Sun in Cuba" Dragon
2.“Are You Old Enough” Dragon
3."Great Southern Land" Icehouse
4. “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” The Angels
5.“Hey St Peter” Flash n the Pan
6."Heaven (Must Be There)" The Eurogliders
7.“I Need You” Avion
8."Khe San" Cold Chisel
9."Flame Trees" Cold Chisel
10."Throw Your Arms Around Me" Hunters & Collectors
11."A Thousand Miles" Hood Gurus
12."Need You Tonight" INXS
13."Street of Love" Jenny Morris
14."Solid Rock" Goanna
15."Pleasure and Pain" The Divinyls
16. “Saturday Night Fever” The Bee Gees
17.“Run to Paradise” Choirboys
18."It's a Long Way to the Top" AC/DC
19."Reckless" Australian Crawl
20."My Island Home" Neil Murray
21."Never Tear Us Apart" INXS
22."The Day You Went Away" Wendy Matthews
23."Don't Tear It Down" Spy v Spy
24. “The Hard Times” Spy v Spy
25.“It’s Only the Beginning” Debra Conway
26. “Weather With You” Crowded House
27."Power and the Passion" Midnight Oil
28. “Read About It” Us Forces
29. “US Forces” Midnight Oil
30.“Beds are Burning" Midnight Oil
31."The Dead Heart" Midnight Oil
32. “Blue Sky Mine” Midnight Oil
33. “Forgotten Years” Midnight Oil
34."From Little Things Big Things Grow" Kev Carmody/Paul Kelly
35."Took the Children Away" Archie Roach
36."Black Fella/White Fella" Warumpi Band
37."Treaty" Yothu Yindi
38. “Dots on the Shells” Yothu Yindi
39."To Her Door" Paul Kelly
40."I Make Hamburgers" The Whitlams
41.“Salt” David Bridie
42.“Better” The Screaming Jets
43.“Accidentally Kelly St” Frente
44. “Raise the Alarm” The Living End
45.“Harpoon” Jebediah
46.“Cardigan” Eskimo Joe
47. “Wedding Cake Island” Midnight Oil
48.“Black Fingernails, Red Wine” Eskimo Joe
49. “One Country” Midnight Oil
50. “Scar” Missy Higgins
51.“Sometimes” Alex Lloyd
52.“Tomorrow” Silverchair
53."Across the Night" Silverchair
54.“One Crowded Hour” Augie March
55.“Love Me Like the World is Ending” Ben Lee
56."These Days" Powderfinger
57."The Sound of White" Missy Higgins
58. “I Know What You Need” Shane Nicholson
59.“Don't You Think It’s Time” Bob Evans
60.“Long Ride” The Audreys
61. “Special Two” Missy Higgins
62. “Tell These Hands” Sara Storer
63.“Am I Not Pretty Enough” Kasey Chambers
64. “Minute by Minute” Grinspoon
65. “Private Universe” Crowded House
66. “Lost and Running” Powderfinger
67. “Burn Your Name” Powderfinger
68.“Wash Me Clean” Bernard Fanning
69. “Sometimes” Midnight Oil
70. “Oceans” John Butler Trio
71."Best of Both Worlds" Midnight Oil
72.“Redneck Wonderland” Midnight Oil
73.“Cannot Buy My Soul” Kev Carmody
74.“The Thing About Grief Is” Claire Bowditch
75. “Caught in the Crowd” Kate Miller-Heidke
76.“Is God Real?” Kasey Chambers
77.“Zebra” John Butler Trio
78.“Rain” Jen Cloher
79. “Beautiful Secrets” Sarah Blasko
80.“The World is a Picture” Josh Pyke
81. “Light All My Lights” Seeker Lover Keeper
82. “From Little Things Big Things Grow” The Waifs
83. “Riptide” Vance Joy
84. “A Number of Us” Tim Hart
85. “Hope” Jack Carty
86. “All Around the World” Jim Moginie
87. “Meet Me in the Middle of the Air” Paul Kelly et al
88.“The Ship Song Project” Paul Kelly and others
89.“Departures (Blue Toowong Skies)” Bernard Fanning
90.“I Was Born Blind” Gurrumul
91.“Laterns” Birds of Tokyo
92.“Truth Walks Slowly (In the Countryside)” O’Shea
93. “How to Make Gravy” Paul Kelly
94. “White Wine in the Sun” Tim Minchin
95. “Kosciusko” Midnight Oil
96."Calm & Crystal Clear" Neil Murray
97. “Your Own History” Jim Moginie
98."Kingdom" Dan Sultan
99.“The Wonder” Alex Lloyd
100.“Dreamworld” Midnight Oil
"Kingdom" Dan Sultan from his album "Killer"
Lament and hope, a brilliantly prophetic song from Dan Sultan with power in his voice, band and performance way beyond the individual parts. This clip resonates with me even because of the venue... a country show ground hall or it's like, venue for many an Easter!! The song speaks of a day when all the voices will be heard, when there is not only peace but justice... To some it'll be shrill annoyance yet to others no doubt tears of hope...
"Calm and Crystal Clear" Missy Higgins covers Neil Murray
Acoustic clip sorry, but just listen to this stunning version of an absolute classic!!!
A song about looking at the world through your story and that of those you know...
This showcases Neil Murray's sharp lyrics and Missy Higgins versatile voice...
From the arguably richest era of Australian rock music, today we have "Take a Long Line" by the Angels, at the peak of their powers!! They were part of an era with AC/DC and bands like Rose Tattoo, Kevin Borich, Dragon, the Oils, SpyvSpy and many more BUT this song and the other 2-3 around it, are just wonderful examples of the outdoor festival stage vibe that was so popular back then... the late Doc Neeson and the Brewsters could have been as big as AC/DC, yes?
"From Little Things Big Things Grow" Paul Kelly/Kev Carmody (this time with John Butler)
It's the story of Vincent Lingiari and the other indigenous farm workers who went on strike with a land claim and a plea for fair wages. I love the quote from Vincent that "we know how to wait" which was apt as it took years to resolve, once taken seriously!!
These are Australia's storytellers at their very best! The image of Gough Whitlam pouring sand into Lingiari's hand at the hand over ceremony is a stunning photo capturing a remarkable moment in Australian history. A story of 'speaking truth to power' and what can happen when we listen, empathise and act for the coming good...
