GlocalNet

I’m involved in some discussions where people from different backgrounds, races, and religion are all talking about how we bring the level of frustration down between the East and West - primarily Muslims and the West.  It was really good.  The next couple of days I’ll give some thoughts on the meetings. 

The two highlights for me were getting to spend time with Dr. John Esposito who teaches at Georgetown in the DC area.  He was a riot.  He’s written extensively on Muslim - West issues.  Another man was Oliver McTernen the head of a group called Forward Thinking.  Both men love God deeply in their own unique way.  They are Catholic - kind of - that’s the best way I know to describe them.  John is the kind of guy that I could see doing absolutely off the wall dare devil kind of stuff, like I did growing up - we’d have a blast together and probably get hurt some.  Oliver, on the other hand is a very deep, deliberate, thinking man of reflection.  We talked a lot about the search for spiritual depth.  Not to say Oliver isn’t fun or John isn’t deep! 

I spoke some at the event - did more listening.  I know for some of you that’s hard to believe - but it’s true! 

I did share that we are at a point of change right now like never before and shouldn’t waste the moment.  Spoke on those in mid-twenties down are our first truly global generation and how we act will predispose them for two more generations.  They will not be moved and challenged by diplomats in rooms writing papers or positions but by grassroots engagement of society in very basic and fundamental ways. 

It’s critical for us to create a new vocabulary.  There was a lot of effort given to defining old terms so that we were all on the same page.  I told them when movements happen, instead of redefining old terms - generally a new vocabulary is created.  The fact that we grapple with old terms trying to make sense out of them shows how out of date we are with the conversation as a whole.