problem people

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I am traveling  from a 2800 bedded tertiary institution to a thirty bedded primary care centre and then to a 130 bedded secondary care over this week. Spending time preparing, listening to leaders, one common thread emerged. People - people are the issue!

The politics of managing people is draining leaders. Dealing with varied perceptions and holding them together is yet another constant challenge. The need for more people is a constant cry, though we are unable to manage those we have!

Someone said - if there were no people, leading would have been so easy....

I was reading today morning. Jesus as he looked at the crowd, His heart was moved with compassion. He saw them as haggard, helpless sheep without Shepard.

And His response was, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into His vineyard.  And then He send out disciples into the villages around with no resources or support system. Teaching them to be dependant on God and interdependent on each other.

Seeing people through God's eyes, as helpless needing a Shepard, understanding that the vineyard is the Fathers and that He is responsible, and responding with the limited resources we have, in a spirit of dependence and interdependence are some lessons to learn from Jesus teachings.

As I was reflecting on this, at Howrah station I came across a community of deaf people. About 12 in number, intensely, eagerly communicating with each other in sign language. The intensity with which they were paying attention to each other, following the signs was worth learning from. They were agreeing, disagreeing, rebuking, rejoicing all in sign language with rapt attention.

May be it is our 'abilities' which makes it difficult for us to live together? May be it is our independence that makes us good consultants but poor community builders. May be it is our personal kingdoms which is in conflict with the Kingdom of the Lord of the Harvest is preventing people from joining?

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