Praxis: reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it.

By -
Inspired on the great Brazilian educator Paulo Freire’s "Praxis: reflection and action" I am taken few moments on the outset of 2010 to reflect on the year soon to be over. Post-Modern life is characterized by many actions (multi-tasking), but very little time for reflection on what was done. I can honest say that my routine fits quite well in the Post-Modern habits. Nevertheless, I do take time to reflect, not as much as I want to.
On my year-end reflection two prominent focuses emerges: relationships and accomplished results. It is easy to begin with the later because many things was accomplished in my ministry with Mercy Ships: thousands of lives being transformed, the Jesus Film and birthday in Africa, ISO 9001 certification and the training provided to our staff and crew.
To reflect on relationships, which are hard to measure, we have to take in consideration the process, because relationships are not a task to be accomplished. Relationships are the result of the process of doing and accomplishing things with others. In doing what we do, do relationships are built and come up stronger or resulted in broken relationships?
No matter if the answer to this question is A, B, or all of the above, Freire’s contention lays on Praxis, reflection followed by action. It is a continuum where action is the result of reflection. This to say that as a result of my year-end reflection I will pay close attention to the process of what I do in order to build and strength the relationships with the people involved. I hope you will also take few moments to reflect on the year that is coming to the end, and the reflection will result in action.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forty Years With Mercy Ships

By -
Image
  Today marks a milestone in my career. Forty years ago, on July 2, 1983, I joined the Organization #MercyShips. Back then, the dream to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor was mainly work, a lot of hard work. But as my parents used to tell me, work doesn’t kill anyone; I’m here to say that they were right. In those forty years, I sailed the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Visited three continents and ministered in 42 countries. Countless volunteers from around the world worked without ceasing on the first Mercy Ships, the Anastasis, and the other ships that followed her, the Good Samaritan, the Pacific Ruby, the Caribbean Mercy, the #AfricaMercy, and now our newest ship, the #GlobalMercy. #Mercy Ships has delivered services to more than 2.86 million beneficiaries during this time. Provided services and materials in developing countries valued at over $1.77 billion, including the following: Performed more than 108,000 life-changing or life-saving surgical procedures
Read more

A Tribute to Pelé

By -
 I was 15 years old at the time of the buzz about Pelé’s 1000th goal. The countdown began on the 910th. Local, national, and international media followed his team, Santos FC, everywhere. The conversation at the offices, factories, bars, street corners, and the no-grass soccer fields was about when, where, and how the historical feat would happen. At the time, the closer goal scorer was four hundred goals behind. We wanted to know who would go into history by association just for being under the crossbar at the wrong time for them but at the right time for the rest of the world. Our imagination wondered what kind of special magic Pelé would use to score a goal that would be in our memories forever. Would he score with his head after rising a foot above his marker? Or would he score after controlling a crossed ball with his chest, looping it over a defender before kicking it to the back of the net? Would the goal happen after a spectacular run from the mid-field leaving behind counte
Read more

Happy Father's Day!

By -
It is a beautiful East Texas Sunday. A perfect day to celebrate Father’s Day. No matter if he is your biological father, an adopted father, a stepfather, or just someone who has the role of a father figure in your life. Today we celebrate fathers. I can’t resist reflecting on my father, Mr. Manoel Barbosa Dos Santos, a hardworking man who was always there present in my life. He brought me to my first day of school, took me to my first soccer game at Maracanã stadium, was with me when I joined Merchant Marine Academy, and helped me to fix my first house. It is hard to remember an important event in my life when he was not present. He was always there. And he did it without saying anything. He was from an era when it was unnecessary to say to those you love; I love you. I know of his love for me not because he said it but because he demonstrated it. I remember one time when I was playing soccer at the local fire station’s futsal court when I glimpsed my father with a grin on his fa
Read more