Friday 25 February 2022

Pistis ponders from far and near (weekending February 26th 2022)

 

istis ponders from a distance and from very close up (weekending February 26th 2022)

From the height of the tallest buildings in Kyiv and in Moscow, looking down, istis cannot tell your nationality, your age, your gender identity, your skin colour, your heritage, your sexuality, your politics, your faith or lack of it, your abilities, your class or social status, your wealth or poverty, your intelligence, your education history or lack of it, your past, your integrity, your levels of compassion, your secrets, your regrets, your hopes and aspirations. From not very high above the ground, perhaps that which differentiates us, which so often separates you from me - maybe just cannot be seen.

Looking at your blood, spilt from a body miraculous in its complexity, istis cannot tell your nationality, your age, your gender identity, your skin colour, your heritage, your sexuality, your politics, your faith or lack of it, your abilities, your class or social status, your wealth or poverty, your intelligence, your education history or lack of it, your past, your integrity, your levels of compassion, your secrets, your regrets, your hopes and aspirations. From no distance at all, from where your life soaked into the ground, possibly that which differentiates us, which so often separates you from me - maybe just cannot be seen.

How far apart do we have to be to call each other enemies?

How close do we have to be to call each other friends?

    © Pistis                                                                                                                    

NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog

entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...  


Saturday 19 February 2022

Pistis ponders needs (weekending February 19th 2022)

 

istis ponders needs, hierarchical or otherwise (weekending February 19th 2022)

As the storm clouds gather this week:

·         literally, thanks to storm Eunice

·         figuratively, on the Ukraine/Russia border

·         theologically, one of the readings for Anglican churches in the UK this Sunday (Luke 8 v 22-25, The Bible), storms calmed and perhaps a phrase to ponder: ‘woke Jesus’!

 

…‽istis plans to discuss ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ with colleagues (1) and maybe (despite the apparently non-triangular original formulation (2) and despite the multiple subsequent iterations, interpretations and discussions) istis tries to see signs of hope that could be faint ‘dots’ in the present tense of current affairs just waiting to be joined into the shape of the future (pyramidically, or otherwise!) as today becomes tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next…?

 

Perhaps, possibly, maybe that shaped future might be one where:

the ‘needs’ of all are met before the ‘wants’ of some?

the ‘need’ for life and for physiological basics (water, food, shelter, etc. - oh, how many need that right now); the need for safety (oh, how this is needed in the present tenseness that diplomacy may or may not resolve); the opportunity to be loved, to love and to belong; the circumstances that imbue self-esteem (confidence, achievement, respect, etc.); the chance for potential to be fulfilled and for us to be the best we can - are called ‘rights’ and we are all the duty-bearers proportionate to our means?

As ever (and perhaps rather like many sermons waiting to be preached) this week’s ponderings are possibly just another variation on a pretty consistent theme -see just about all and any previous blog entries!

And yet, istis can’t help but wonder: Could it be? What would it take? What might be the next step from pondering, imagining and wondering?

    © Pistis                                                                                                                    

NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog

entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...  

 

1) References galore to be found – and many search engines are available to help find them!  “It is quite true that man lives by bread alone — when there is no bread. But what happens to man’s desires when there is plenty of bread and when his belly is chronically filled?

At once other (and “higher”) needs emerge and these, rather than physiological hungers, dominate the organism. And when these in turn are satisfied, again new (and still “higher”) needs emerge and so on. This is what we mean by saying that the basic human needs are organized into a hierarchy of relative prepotency.” From Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human MotivationPsychological Review, 50(4), 370-96.

 

See also: “Critique of Self-Actualization Theory” (1966) Maslow wrote, “It must be stated that self-actualization is not enough. Personal salvation and what is good for the person alone cannot be really understood in isolation… The good of other people must be invoked, as well as the good for oneself… It is quite clear that a purely intrapsychic, individualistic psychology, without reference to other people and social conditions, is not adequate.” Cited in: https://forge.medium.com/maslows-pyramid-is-a-marketing-lie-14202930e20 (2)


Sunday 13 February 2022

Pistis ponders age or shoe size (weekending February 12th 2022)

 

istis ponders age or shoe size (weekending February 12th 2022)

This week:

  • ‽istis feels genuine great fear, even from a place of relative safety at the potential catastrophic consequences of a failure of politics and diplomacy (1)

  • as a vision of young sporting excellence seems to shatter like fragile ice into a story of possible adult manipulation and abuse when the price of winning is perhaps set just too high (2)

  • when workplace mention of ‘we all make mistakes’; ‘we’re just human’; ‘that’s what people are like’ prompts recurring thoughts about whether there is a difference between ‘excuse’ and ‘explanation’ - and whether this is what we have always been like and will always be like…

‽istis wonders whether it is better (definition pending; future blog entry forming; your views welcome…!) to have ‘grown-ups in the room’ (3) or to ‘act your shoe size not your age’ (4)?

Perhaps, possibly, maybe it could be a question of: 

  • for the ‘grown-ups’: how do we nurture, support, protect, encourage and meet the needs and rights of all children and young and people?

  • for the children and young people: what adults do you want and need now - and wish to be when it is your turn?

‽istis is pretty sure that:

  • the absence of war and the fear of war
  • the absence of abuse and coercion and exploitation
  • the absence of lies, loopholes wrought through semantics and ‘apologies if…’ (5)
  • the effective optimal management and response to sources and threats of illness and diseases endemic and pandemic, to poverty and hunger and homelessness
  • the presence of perhaps dynamically and necessarily interlinked peace and justice and equality (6)
  • a future-proofed sustainable planet
might feature in the hopes of children and young people, along with a wish that the adults with power are focussed utterly, absolutely and relentlessly on bringing them about - especially this week in London, Washington and Moscow.

Whatever your shoe size, whatever your age, whatever your position or circumstance, ‽istis wonders whether it is just too difficult or too much to ask that ‘we’ seek to act in a way that constructs the world as we would like it to be rather than perpetuates the world as it is.

Just imagine the perhaps, possibly, maybe consequences…  

© Pistis                                                                                                                    

NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog

entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...  

 

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60355295  & “All war represents a failure of diplomacy.“ —  Tony Benn Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1991/feb/28/the-gulf in the House of Commons (28 February 1991) & a fascinating article stumbled upon from 1908: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25106058?seq=11#metadata_info_tab_contents 

  2. References found include: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/figure-skating-russias-valieva-shows-up-practice-again-beijing-2022-02-11/

  3. References found include: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/boris-johnson-out-government-grownups-26049419 & https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/315535/a-ladybird-book-about-donald-trump/9780241422724.html 

  4. References found include: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/27/act-your-shoe-size-not-your-age & https://adsspot.me/media/tv-commercials/clarks-act-your-shoe-size-not-your-age-b7e63ededa0e 

  5. References found include: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understand-other-people/201607/i-m-sorry-you-were-offended-is-not-really-apology 

  6. Versus ‘mutually assured destruction’ which is perhaps being tested as an effective philosophy of deterrence at this very moment…? References found include: https://www.thoughtco.com/mutually-assured-destruction-1221190

Saturday 5 February 2022

Pistis ponders resignings (weekending February 5th 2022)

 

istis ponders resignings (weekending February 5th 2022)

This week in the UK, as calls for a particular resignation mount (1) and some actually do (perhaps, even proverbially, from a sinking ship?) (2), ‽istis pondered resignings. 

A search for ‘great resignings’ did not immediately bring up that powerful speech and resignation from the Government’s Cabinet and position as Leader of the Commons by Robin Cook in 2003 (3) but it did provide links to articles and commentary on a phenomenon identified in the USA: the recent/current ‘Great Resignation’ (4) linked, it would seem, to a reappraisal of work and even of life that some have been able to consider in a pandemic.

Yet, perhaps what a luxury to be able to move from a wish for basic pay - to not being satisfied with just higher pay; from having the security of sick pay and paid time off - to not being satisfied with just more time off; to move from desperately, heartbreakingly wanting some time with the family and a brief respite from excessive long hours or multiple jobs - to not being satisfied with just more time at home… ‘First world’ problems‽

As Jessica Stillman writes (see 4) ‘The period of prolonged uncertainty… is going to make people consider their priorities on many, many levels, including the work they do…. The Great Resignation isn’t primarily about the logistics of work, it’s about its meaning.’     

Back in the UK, ‽istis wonders whether similar might be said of resignations from ‘No 10’ (Downing Street)? With the promise of a shake up (5) in the light of a ‘failure of leadership’, it may not be ‘primarily about the logistics’ but more about the meaning of No 10 in a parliamentary democracy.

As we perhaps wait to see if the Prime Minister jumps, is pushed, or somehow hangs on - freezing from the nether parts upwards like some Jack Dawson in icy waters (6) with the remains of a sinking premier ship nearby - ‽istis wonders whether what is perhaps, possibly, may be most needed is a ‘Great Re-signing’, not least starting with a fresh sign up to the Nolan Principles (7) of public life: selflessness, integrity, honesty, accountability, leadership, objectivity, openness.

And if perhaps, possibly, maybe these were to prevail in both public and private lives, well then just imagine how different the world might be‽ 

© Pistis                                                                                                                    

NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog

entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’: @Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...  

 

  1. https://theconversation.com/in-the-name-of-god-go-the-history-of-a-speech-that-has-brought-down-parliament-and-a-prime-minister-175368 

  2. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/17/labour.uk 

  3. https://www.bigissue.com/news/politics/will-boris-johnson-resign/ 

  4. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/great-resignation-work-meaning-esther-perel.html 

  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60210893

  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pudXdSnR01s (c.4’10”+) PS: other parts in the movie may be allocated at readers’ discretion, perhaps?

  7. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLO4xn0gFY8rx2an6GM112Q

‽istis ponders volunteering, expertise and tapping (weekending April 27th 2024)

  ‽istis ponders volunteering, expertise and knowing where and how to tap (weekending April 27 th  2024) Various themes this weekending; m...