After an entire summer of working through a web of conflicts with some business partners, yesterday there was a breakthrough. And it came down to this--one turned to the other and said, you know, I don't even know you. Maybe we should get to know each other socially. The grace factor kicked in. Believe me, this could not have happened two months ago. And it's been baby steps from the beginning with this group. So--our work there is almost done.

I read yesterday a comparison of the Native American concept of justice and the mainstream American concept of justice. Here are some of the concepts. (From the Mennonite Conciliation Service Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual):

Generic Native American-----Mainstream American
relationship centered---------agreement centered
cooperation-------------------competition
humility, anonymity----------win a prize, announce it
time is always with us---------time is limited
share resources---------------save resources for self
reasoning based on experience--scientific explanations
group concensus--------------individual, boss decides
Nurture, support given- - - - - Degrees of punishment,
to all, restore dignity----------restore goods
Peacemaking is healing, - - - - Conflict resolution
spiritual-------------------------is problem-solving