Twenty years ago, when I started working with refugees, I believed in the saying “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day—teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime”. I’ve come to understand that the problem is not a need for fishing lessons, but an unequal distribution of fishing rods.  By focusing on a role as helper rather than leader, I’ve been able to fit into a more African model of change—and learned some fantastic tools for UU church life.

Liz James is a UU author and speaker.  You can find more of her work in UU World, at the UU Hysterical Society, and on her podcast, The Cracked Cup.

Topics: Challenges, Community, Hope