fix it?

I’m not good at fixing things. Leaking taps, broken car engines, dodgy household appliances... all these things are beyond me.

When I think about Cambodia, I see many things that need fixing. There is substandard housing and lack of access to clean water. Fractured infrastructure, health, education and justice systems.... or the brokenness that comes from grinding poverty, leaving families torn apart by economic hardship, violence, addiction, slavery and corruption.

I’m not good at fixing things. Sometimes I wish I could have studied medicine and learned to fix people’s bodies. Teachers, lawyers, engineers and economists all have opportunities to bring positive change in their fields. I often think I should have pursued some kinds of “practical” career in the face of such needs. But I’m starting to wonder if I have a different vocation. Maybe I’m not meant to be looking for things that need to be repaired. I think I am meant to be finding positive assets that already exist in a community already and helping people to build on these. In the words of my friend Lisa, finding the “flowers in the rubbish”.... and helping other people to see them too.

I can’t change people but people can be changed.

How? ... Effective, sustainable community development must emerge from within a community, through building on local resources and capacities. Some external stimulus is usually involved, but often the best work is done little.

I want to be an effective catalyst for a community to build on the strengths that are there already. I want to find beauty and joy where some see only hopelessness..... so that others can begin to feel it too. I seek to point a spotlight on goodness and grace- challenging people to build caring relationships, share common pathways in their journey towards growth and live full lives. I'm still working this out but right now it is a lot easier than trying to fix stuff!