The task of this generation:

This video (which I love because it has various languages in captions), and their website mark the launch of an inspiring global endeavor to celebrate compassion and to promote a new collaboration between the world’s religions. What they are doing is to begin writing the Charter for Compassion that Karen Armstrong called for earlier this year when she made her TED Prize wish.

The goal is to obtain all input from global participants within the next four weeks, select the best contributions with the help of a council of religious “sages”, and conduct a major launch of the finished document in 2009. This Charter is being created in a collaborative project by people from all over the world. It will be completed in 2009. You may use this site to offer language you’d like to see included. Or inspire others by sharing your own story of compassion.

The collection of stories is naturally rather eclectic but represents our thoughts and the ideas of others in what it takes to create truly meaningful, healthy and holistic change . . . that is sustainable and evolutionary over time. I was particularly moved by the story of Samia Shoaib.

This post is a follow-up to one a couple of days ago about Frankl’s “Search for Meaning”. At 1-Focus we stress the need for Shared Vision which I see as a combination of man’s desire for purpose according to Frankl and the collaborative process of Armstrong. It is also in the stories that not only do we find our voice but we really can change the conversation and create a “new world identity”.

At TED2008 in March of this year, TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong was granted a wish to change the world. I encourage you to take the time to download this to your iTunes or computer and watch it all (22 minutes). This is her call to action:

“I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect.”