SPIRITUALITY, FAIR TRADE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
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13	November 2013

Building on Faith

Text 1: "I believe that the most valuable asset that congregations and other faith-based organizations can leverage is faith . The core of this faith is the belief that there is great love at work in the universe that seeks justice, mercy, peace, and joy. Our various faith traditions and practices teach us how to stay open to that love, tap into it, align ourselves with it, and be empowered by it."

Response 1: As a member of many different faith communities in my school and parish, I can resonate with this quote in believing that faith is the center of and brings together communities. I believe it is the most powerful force in uniting people. Regardless of if they are religious or secular, a ground faith or common belief in something is a uniting force. Especially at a Jesuit university where we practice religious traditions, faith is a major factor that brings communities and congregations together.

Text 2: "We have flexibility. The ability to respond nimbly to opportunities or changing circumstances is prized over disciplined adherence to a multiyear plan. There's a willingness to pursue promising but iisky ideas without paralysis due to fear of failure."

Response 2: This quote particularly interested me among the other commons values in organizations and congregations. While this may sound contradictory as a student at a prestigious and rigorous university, I agree with the idea that being able to think quickly and in response to something is more valuable than book or typical knowledge. As Packard alludes to in the rest of the reading, communities are often challenged with situations that they did not plan for, and having flexibility is what allows them to be successful.