"You have gifts that I don't have. I have gifts that you don't have" Archbishop Tutu about Ubuntu

[Birgitta Schomaker]

I ran into this video with Archbishop Tutu .

"A person is a person through other persons. I am human because I belong, I participate, I share. (...) You and I are made for interdependence. You and I are made for complementarity. You have gifts that I don't have. I have gifts that you don't have", Tutu says. 

I find Tutu's words (and the Ubuntu perspective) very inspiring. His words help me to reconnect with the essence of SALT, and it answers for me the question What makes us human?

Yesterday in a meeting that I attended about an idea for a new project, it seemed that there was a sense of complementarity, an excitement about what would be possible as a result of what each and everyone could contribute with their talents. When I got home, and the excitement kind of moved to the background, I realised that we didn't manage to slow down and uncover the differences of opinion that were also present in the conversation. 

It is painful when the gifts that we would like to offer, are not perceived or received. My learning from this meeting is that we really need to take time to explore what everyone holds true in their hearts, not only the excitement to realise a dream, but also concerns. And more importantly, to take time and slow down to be curious about everyone's talents, even when the collaboration seems promising and exciting!

If we don't manage to listen deeply to each other and take time to get to know each other (including our differences) during the "Who are we?" phase, this might backfire on us later on. 

[Rituu B. Nanda]

A beautiful reflection, Birgitta. My experience is don't start with what is working, start with gifts, strengths and then slowly people in the space will open and share their vulnerabilities. I experienced this yesterday in a SALT visit with adolescent girls.