A black and white Christmas

The French artist Jean-Francois Millet is best known for his evocative paintings of peasant life in France; ‘The Gleaners’ is perhaps his most famous work.  The Barbizon school which he co-founded sought greater realism in art; taking scenes from nature as their subjects, and introducing loose brushwork and bright colours, they were the forerunners of Impressionism.

Millet’s ‘The Flight into Egypt’ is in quite a different vein; the scene in this pencil drawing is brooding and opaque.  The couple trudging silently through the darkness would be entirely anonymous but for Millet’s title and the strange glow emanating from the bundle which the man is carrying.  This is Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus – fleeing by night the murderous threat they faced in Bethlehem.  Alone and fearful, without any human support or help, they hope to find refuge in a strange land.

Although Millet drew this 150 years ago, it symbolises the black-and-white Christmas that countless people are facing this year.  Two million Syrian refugees are struggling to survive as winter storms are buffeting their camps.  In the Central African Republic, 700,000 people have fled their villages in the last few weeks due to sectarian violence, and thousands of Filipinos are still wrestling with the devastating consequences of typhoon Haiyan.

Here in Britain half a million people will spend Christmas alone, and for most it’s not by choice.  They may be warm and dry physically, but they’re lonely and lacking support: their poverty is relational.  Thousands of parents whose marriage has failed will be prevented from seeing their children next week due to court orders; they too face a black-and-white Christmas.

The couple in Millet’s picture would have been anonymous to any who saw them, yet their lives were immensely significant.  Like the shadowed faces of Mary and Joseph, the faces of the people who are physically and relationally poor this Christmas are invisible to us; they are ‘just statistics’.

But the birth of Christ shows that each and every one of them is immensely significant.  Will you let the light of Christmas change the way you see them?


Friday Five is an initiative of the Jubilee Centre in collaboration with Relational Research (formerly Relationships Global)

Goodbye Madiba!

(updated post from June 14th 2013)

Quote

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” Abraham Lincoln

News

The tributes that have been flowing in since Nelson Mandela died last night emphasise the extraordinary relational footprint he has left in the nation and the world.  Tony Blair said what stood out to him was the way Mandela ascribed to everyone the same dignity – he would converse with the doorman and the lady serving the tea, not just with the politicians.  He valued shared humanity above political and social status. 

The history of South Africa over the last 20 years could have been very different had Mandela not been such a remarkable leader relationally.  Despite the inhuman conditions of Robben Island prison, Mandela came to treat his captors with courtesy and respect, to the point where some felt they were more like Mandela’s guests than his warders.  He later invited his jailer to his presidential inauguration in 1994.

Following his release he engaged with the white government leaders with dignity and courage, which slowly won their trust and allowed a passage towards peaceful elections.  Mandela could so easily have been driven by bitterness, resentment and anger which might have led the country towards showdown and civil war.

Other stories tell how Mandela gained the loyalty of the white elite by keeping the same security staff in the presidential palace after coming to power.  The film ‘Invictus’ shows how he earned the trust of the wider white population by embracing the Springboks – who epitomised Apartheid – and enthusiastically supporting their successful bid to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Mandela’s domestic life was more troubled, and his first two marriages ended in divorce. Nevertheless, his commitment to forgiveness, his accomplishment in uniting South Africans across racial and tribal divides, and leading them without retribution or recrimination from Apartheid to democracy, will ensure his long walk to freedom will inspire others for generations to come. 

Read on…

The trial of Nelson Mandela in 1964 led to his 27 years of imprisonment; read his remarkable speech at that trial, carefully documenting the grievances of the black South African population and the ANC’s strategy here.  

Walk the talk

Treating people who are prejudiced towards you with dignity and respect can be transformative of the relationship; is there someone you need to respond to in this positive spirit?

The last word

From the Bible, Matthew 5, verse 39: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”

Cricket, character and controversy

Quote

“It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavours look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect.”  Bill Bryson

News

The nature of threatening comments made by Australian cricketers during the Test match last weekend have cast a cloud over their otherwise impressive performance, beating England by 381 runs.  British player Jonathan Trott flew home early with a stress-related illness after being taunted as ‘weak’ and ‘fearful’, and the Australian captain was fined for threatening behaviour when he warned another English batsman to get ready for a broken arm.

While some competitive banter between opposing sides is normal in a cricket match, it seems that this practice of ‘sledging’ is going too far.

Contrast this with India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who played his 200^th and final Test match two weeks ago.  Tendulkar’s huge following in India and around the world owes as much to his character as to his cricketing genius.  He is modest and patient, has time for others, including his adversaries, and treats everyone with courtesy and respect – whether they are celebrities or cleaners. 

Despite his huge fame, the sporting legend has largely steered clear of scandals and maintained a stable family life with his wife and two children.  In Tendulkar’s valedictory speech he spoke tenderly and at length about the encouragement and support of his close family and friends.   

The mean-spirited behaviour of some of the players has left a relational chill over the Test Match in Brisbane; perhaps the example of Sachin Tendulkar, and the way he honoured his relationships on and off the field, needs to rub off on his fellow cricketers.

Read on

The formation of character and values was a major motivation behind the development of competitive sport.  Read this article in Christianity magazine about the church origins of many of Britain’s top football clubs.

Walk the talk

When you are competing against someone, do you stay on the right side of the line relationally?  If not, do you need to cultivate a more sportsmanlike attitude?

The last word

From the Bible, Colossians chapter 4 verse 6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Kennedy, Lewis and looking for hope

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"Assassination has never changed the history of the world."  Benjamin Disraeli

News

Two distinguished men died on this day fifty years ago, one through an assassin’s bullet, the other through renal failure.  JF Kennedy was the youngest elected President of the United States, while CS Lewis was an Oxbridge academic, broadcaster and apologist for the Christian faith.

Both men inspired hope.  Kennedy launched his presidency with the famous words, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."  His leadership motivated idealism and service, and one of his more enduring legacies was establishing the US Peace Corps.  Yet the hope he inspired remained unfulfilled, trapped in suspended animation through his sudden and untimely death.

CS Lewis inspired hope in quite a different way.  His earthy, well-reasoned theology appealed to a wide range of people.  Whether addressing the challenges of war, the reality of pain and grief, or inner battles with temptation, Lewis was able to communicate the deep truths of the Christian faith to a doubting world.  His Chronicles of Narnia are a masterful Christian allegory loved by children and adults alike, in which Aslan the great lion symbolises Jesus Christ.

The death of Lewis was eclipsed by the assassination of Kennedy the same day, which is one of the reasons why it has taken a long time to appreciate his influence and legacy.  In recognition of Lewis’ contribution to literature and national life, a plaque is being unveiled today in his honour at Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.

The world needs hope as much now as it did 50 years ago.  However, people in the 21st century look on political leaders through jaded eyes, and there will never be another like John F. Kennedy.  Neither will there be another Lewis, but through his writings, people continue to discover the source of hope and faith which transformed his own life.  As Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,‘Aslan is on the move!’

Read on

Alister McGrath wrote a new biography of CS Lewis this year, which was reviewed by Anthony Kenny in the Times Literary Supplement; you can read the review here.

Walk the talk

Where do you tend to look for hope?  Are you depending on human strength or skill, or are you trusting in a higher power?

The last word

From the Bible, Psalm 146 verses 3 & 5: “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save…  Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

United we stand?

Quote

“In the past a leader was a boss. Today's leaders must be partners with their people... they no longer can lead solely based on positional power.”  Ken Blanchard

News

The recent dispute between the Grangemouth petrochemical plant owners and the Unite union, which nearly led to the closure of the plant, is still being debated in the press and in Parliament.  

The Unite union took on plant owners Ineos over a disciplinary issue involving a union convenor, while the company wanted to negotiate the ‘survival plan’ for the loss-making complex.  At the threat of strike action, Ineos decided to close the plant, which was only reversed when the union accepted all the terms and conditions set out by Ineos; ‘a complete rout’ is how the press called it.

In other parts of the industry, unions and employers are working together constructively over safety and training, adjusting to the recession, and minimising compulsory redundancies.  Yet the poor relationship at Grangemouth led to a brinkmanship that almost cost 800 jobs directly, and over 2000 indirectly – which would have decimated the local community economically and relationally.

Arguably, the conflict is fuelled by the relational ‘story’ which the two parties are acting from.  The Unite union (and perhaps the management also) believes the relationship between employers and their staff is a fundamentally adversarial one – reflecting the Marxist thinking of many leaders in the Union movement.  

Yet there is an alternative story, which is that businesses can be built around the commonality or mutual benefit in the relationship between employers and those who work for them.  Economics deals in labour and capital, but in reality a business comprises a web of relationships between people – directors, employees, customers, unions, suppliers, neighbours, regulators and so on.   

When there is honesty, fairness and order in these relationships the business is more likely to survive in adverse times and prosper in the long run, with the benefits shared by all.  But where mistrust, strife and contention overshadow workplace relationships, then productivity falls, the business enters a downward spiral, and the web of relationships unravels to the detriment of all.

Read on…

Another company with 900 employees offers an inspiring example of that alternative story; it has never laid off a member of staff due to recession in its 130 year history.  Read about the Swiss Army knife manufacturer Victorinox here. 

Walk the talk

What is the underlying story between the stakeholders in your workplace?  Is there any area where you have an opportunity to rewrite that story and help it in the direction of more cooperative relationships?

The last word

From the Bible, Romans chapter 12 verse 18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Plebgate and police relationships

By Jeremy Swan

Twitter: @Jez_Swan

 

Quote

‘When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.’ Thomas Jefferson

 

News

Recent developments in the ‘Plebgate’ scandal in the UK have brought police relationships with politicians and the public into focus. In October last year Andrew Mitchell, then Conservative Chief Whip, was forced to resign over allegations that he called a police officer a ‘pleb’. Mr Mitchell repeatedly denied using the word, although he admitted to swearing in front of a police officer.

 

On Wednesday the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) accused police of lying about a meeting they had with Mr Mitchell in an attempt to force his resignation and put pressure on the government to backtrack over police cuts. According to the IPCC, the police investigation into the incident had initially concluded there should be a misconduct inquiry, yet the final report was changed and said no action would be taken.

 

Our society expects high moral standards of those in public roles; trust is damaged when these standards are not met. Public trust requires that the law will be applied without partiality, and that there will be an unwavering commitment to truth and justice. In Mr Mitchell’s case it perhaps seems that some individuals were prepared to sacrifice justice in pursuit of their own interests.

 

If these allegations against the police are proved to be true, we must ask whether the police can be trusted to regulate themselves, as they have been allowed to do in this case. How also might they repair the broken relationships with the public and the politicians?

 

An apology to Mr Mitchell would be a good start.

 

Read on…

A recent IPCC statement about the police investigation can be listened to online by clicking here.

 

Walk the talk

Acting with integrity allows trust to be built in our relationships, leading to stronger, more resilient bonds. Even if it comes at short term personal cost, investing in integrity will pay dividends in the long run.

 

The last word

From the Bible, Proverbs chapter 20, verse 7: ‘The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him!’

 

Big Brother and the whistle-blower

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“People who live in the post-totalitarian system know only too well that the question of whether one or several political parties are in power, and how these parties define and label themselves, is of far less importance than the question of whether or not it is possible to live like a human being.” Václav Havel.

News

The face of fugitive Edward Snowden adorns the front page of several papers in Britain today. The former CIA employee who leaked vast amounts British and American intelligence data was pictured together with four prominent American whistle-blowers at a secret location in Russia.

The battle over the ethics of his actions rages in the press.  The Guardian has been publishing the leaks to expose the extent of eavesdropping by the intelligence services and force greater accountability on them.  On the other hand, the Daily Mail accuses the Guardian of being ‘The paper that helps Britain’s enemies’, and The Times headline states that Snowden’s leaks are the ‘worst blow to British intelligence ever’.

Both sides in the wider debate claim to act out of a sense of responsibility, but more important is the question of proportionality.  What is a proportional level of surveillance of the US or UK population in order to intercept potential security risks?  And when responsibility requires blowing the whistle on corrupt or illegal actions, how much is it appropriate to divulge?

From a relational perspective, perhaps the crucial issue is to consider what poses the greater threat to our lives and relationships in the long run.  Is it the threat of a sudden attack from malevolent individuals, or is it the creeping tyranny from a centralised state?

Each threat is real, and many people in diverse countries have painful experiences of both realities.    The challenge for whistle-blowers and governments alike is knowing how to mount an effective defence against the one threat, without increasing the likelihood of the other.

Read on

Sales of Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell’s book about ‘Big Brother’ dominating a totalitarian state, have surged since Edward Snowden’s leaks; you can read an overview of the events and context which shaped Orwell’s thinking here.

Walk the talk

Do you need to consider the proportionality of your response to some particular threat?  Be careful to avoid the substitution of one danger for another. 

The last word

From the Bible, Matthew chapter 24, verse 43: “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.”