Tree

Our Daily Bread had a good reflection on the role of the tree from Eden to Calvary.

They bear fruit but could also figure in a conflict.

Suicide

Somebody please mediate between DU30's pronouncement of Sulu suicide bombing and the police's stand to the contrary.

Sue side is contra mediation side.

Family

My daughter found a photo of the brother of one of the country's heroes/heels with our family name too.

While we cannot chose our kin, we can opt to deal with them in peace and compromise.

Regret

It is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in. (Katherine Mansfield )

Better go to mediation.

Preparation

In an Inquirer Entertainment article, Helen Gamboa admits "being an actress helps (her) be a good cook" in her Colours show, From Helen's Kitchen.

Experience in Human Resources and  Counseling is good background for mediators.

Trump Blinks

He now moves for a temporary opening of government agencies recently shutdown for the longest time in American history.

That is a compromise hopefully leading to a permanent resolution of his conflict with Congress.

Which House Rules

Interesting conflict in US between Trump in the White House and House Speaker Pelosi. One point for Pelosi as she refuses Trump's State of the Union Address in her House.

Meantime, migrants await their fate at the gate.

Not for the Vain

This could be a warning in mediation- both for mediator and disputants, who can choose the mediator they want as well as change him/her along the way.  Elderly disputants scoff at mediators younger than them. Mediation, aside perhaps from acting roles for older characters, welcomes gray hair and wrinkles.

Lack Nothing

Our Daily Bread today recalls Jesus' marching orders to His apostles: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff." They were to depend on divine providence and the goodwill of the people they meet.

Much like mediation.

Empowerment

In a meeting at the charity hospital, doctors decried having to refer patients to other hospitals, diagnostic centers and pharmacies due to a lack in their hospital. They expressed willingness to help out financially to continue serving the marginalized.

It was decided that they form a Management Committee to meet with the President on their Action Plan for 2019.

Divine Intervention

We need reinforcement from up above, ever since the Garden of Eden.

He is the Divine Mediator.

Breath of Life

Our Daily Bread's reflection today touched on God's infusion of life into Adam.

Much life mediators empowering disputants toward their Compromise Agreement.

Human Resources

Am back in HR (which could also stand for Human Rights in the workplace) as Consultant in a hospital next door.

Mediating between management and labor, laborer vs laborer and manager vs manager are some concerns.

Julia's Bench

After her daughter's suicide, Sharmaine Buencamino put up this initiative in schools and other institutions for the lonely to invite friends.

Mediation is another such judicial bench. 

World Gamefowl Expo

This huge billboard made me reflect.

Mediation exposes foul game in the world.

Traffic

Not of cars but human beings. CNN's Biz Traveller had airline personnel profile their behavior on board. Restricted movement has the victim followed to the restroom and back. If flight attendant asks questions, the victim does not speak while the trafficker answers agitatedly.

Body language is also telling during mediation.

Muhammad Ali

He empowered a cancer patient young boy in Pennsylvania thus: I'll beat George Foreman and you'll beat cancer!" But the boy knew his body best and replied, "No, I'll tell God I know Muhammad Ali" to get a better seat in heaven.

Disputants know what works for them in the Compromise Agreement.

Three's Company

Twas HITS' Sunday treat. In this episode, Jack and their landlord were advised to seek empowerment. They were taught to:
B- e like somebody.
A- ct like sonebody.
R- eact like somebody.
K- onnect like somebody.
They were fairly successful till Janet told them to "Sit!"

Mediation empowers disputants by sitting them together and facilitating negotiation.

Bringing out our Good

In this article of Cielito Habito in his column "No Free Lunch" in the Inquirer, he quoted his Chinese son-in-law. "Discipline can be instilled through training, but respect and kindness are ingrained." He was referring to Pinoys.

These traits are what mediation tries to bring out in disputants.

Defenders of Riga

Cinema Europe has a good selection of historical films. This one on Latvia depicted its struggle against Russia and Germany, much like the devil and the blue sea.

The United Nations is the global mediator.

What's In A Name

Fe Campanero is in-charge of the Balangiga bells.

Just like the solution to their conflict lies in the hands of the disputants.

Church heel

After all the slings and arrows thrown by DU30 on the Church, their recently released Pastoral Letter answers them point by Biblical point. While churchmen have their grievous faults, so does DU30.

Mediation sees that both disputants have their points as well as faults. A compromise agreement rights the wrongs.

About a Boy

A single guy pretending to have a son intruded the meetings of Single Parents Alone Together (SPAT) in hot pursuit of one of its members.

No such ruse in mediation.

Four Christmasses

Not over 4 years but with 4 parents of a couple. One father said it best when he remarked, "You can't spell families without lies."

Not in mediation.

Darkest Hour

This is Churchill's biopic as British Prime Minister during World War ll. He also referred to meeting the King weekly then as having a tooth pulled everytime.

Mediation, on the other hand is "Easing the Pains of Conflict," as the book of Atty. Grace Plazo is called.

The Wonder Years

This series is about two sons who are just poles apart. The elder Wayne is irresponsible while Kevin is introspective. Once, while their parents were away, Kevin is pressured by his gang to host a poker game which morphed into a wild party. When Wayne comes back from his gallivanting, Kevin is busy cleaning up. Their parents arrive early, and Wayne owns up after being falsely accused by their parents. Kevin pays by cleaning Wayne's car.

Typecasting is not a mediation move.

HITS Back

No violence here but the return of the lovable Little House on the Prairie. At Christmastime, the family is creative in earning extra money for simple gifts.

Mediating neediness.

Push

Without being pushy, thus advised the concierge of Gstaad's Palace Hotel in a CNN interview.

Sounds like a mediator, too.

Making Lemonade

Handed a lemon of a flood, a young man made the most of so much water by wakeboarding in the streets.

Mediation makes the most of resources and especially the goodwill of disputants.

Empathy

A Thai mourning the death of his wife started comforting others with 4 creatures- a duck, toad, dog and bird, who had previously soothed his sorrow too.

Somehow, those who benefit from mediation are expected to spread the goodwill around.

Achievement

This is the most important value of today's millennials, as gathered by the Church in launching the Year of the Youth. It is equated from success in school or work  to likes on their posts. And they lack fallback mechanism as family is only value number 7.

Mediation can patch up these differences.