A First Step From Rome

Sat Jun 15 16:00:40 PDT 2002

okay, okay, i'm here.  <<<grinning broadly now in the direction of the
(unnamed) friend who's just rousted me offlist from my comfortable
lurking position of doing so much less --  that it really was *less*
...grin again>>>

been lurking here while busy in other places but, now prodded, have
re-read much of the recent conversation.  a lot to take in from my
current place of ever-so-slightly-more-than-usual uncertainty and
questionning.

feels like some important, but not painful, peeling/stripping going on
these days.  the kind of peeling away that happens because new shoots
are coming from inside... rather than the painful kind of stripping that
happens when pulling off a sticky bandage.  like a hatching, only softer.

anyway, will add another take on the tuning fork story...

this came in a bit ago from an important teacher of mine, who is teacher
to many.  she is a western artist/scientist who has studied for many
many years with some high tibetan teachers and teaches now at their request.

i think it is very much how i like, more and more, to think of my role
in open space, whether leading a short event, full-blown conference, or
training/practice workshop.  it's part of believing that anybody in the
circle could be, and may soon be, doing what i am doing out in the
middle of that circle.  for me this is a view that makes *our* work and
*my* work more sustainable.

here is what this teacher said...

>>> my father asked me yesterday morning,"How do you feel about being
guru to so many people." A moment of contraction, an inner gulp, a
resting down.  Then I said, "It depends on what you think guru is.  What
I experience is that, on a good day, I am the reminder person at the
center of a maturing community of practice.  People who have practiced
longer share support with me, mutually, rather than always taking it.  I
feel strongly that it is very good for that to happen.  I even feel it
is important."  So he says, "I guess that is the answer to my question." <<<

m

--

Michael Herman
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610
312-280-7838 voice
312-280-7837 fax

http://www.michaelherman.com
...an invitation.

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>From  Sat Jun 15 18:21:56 2002
Message-Id: <SAT.15.JUN.2002.182156.0700.>
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 18:21:56 -0700
Reply-To: bjp1 at cox.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: BJ Peters <bjp1 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: A Report from the Field  - Another One - Short!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
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Jim-- I agree with Harrison and others about the theme working best when
in question form. As to the second opportunity, if it were mine, I would
use the first two hour meeting to do an appreciative inquiry to help
people get in touch with a time when they were enthusiastic, inspired,
excited, etc. If you'd like more on how I might frame the AI questions
and design the two hours, feel free to contact me off-list.

BJ Peters
bjp1 at cox.net
602.279.4805

Jim Metcalf wrote:

>Dear Brian and all fellow adventurers in Open Space!
>I am struggling with two opportunities.
>The first is for my own congregation, a pleasant, unchallenged group of
>Lutherans. I am planning an Open Space event for them, with the
>encouragement of the council, to plan activity for the months September
>2002 through May 2003. I am working on wording for a theme, with this as
>the current idea: "Working Together in Faith: September 2002 -- May
>2003". I am not entirely satisfied with this expression, however, and
>would welcome your input.
>The second opportunity involves a neighboring congregation, and begins
>next week. They are planning to spend several million bucks on some
>project or other, but there is no enthusiasm for the work. They happen
>to be an hundred plus year old congregation in the heart of the
>downtown, surrounded by a new medical research facility, and are
>neighbors to various government and private office buildings. This is
>not your residential neighborhood church! Members commute to
>participate. Their pastor's problem is that he does not know why they
>lack energy for this project, although intellectually everyone is lined
>up behind it. He has called a two hour meeting of the congregation this
>coming Saturday, and has asked me to lead it. I am proposing an open
>forum in which members can toss out some ideas, and from that I want to
>generate an Open Space meeting some time later. I would like to hear
>your thoughts on this also.
>
>Eagerly waiting,
>
>Jim
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Fr
>Brian S Bainbridge
>Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 5:09 AM
>To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>Subject: Re: A Report from the Field - Another One - Short!
>
>Dear Harrison and Judy
>I liked the list of topics you shared with us, Judy.  Very interesting.
>For the record - and from a pragmatic way of helping space and Peace to
>grow - I opened space for one day for about 150 parishioners at a
>neighbouring Melbourne parish last Monday, which was a public holiday -
>Queen's Birthday.
>They generated some 116 wall topics and just 50 workshop sessions.
>The highest scoring included:
>Building stronger parish//parish elementary school links
>The Church needs young people ; Young people need the Church ; making
>the two meet.
>Welcoming to the parish and schools new parishioners and new families.
>Spiritual care & visitation to sick and elderly confined to their homes.
>
>Care for the people who feel isolated.
>Building parish community.
>To know we are Christians by our love - to each other within our
>community by our example.
>Community - merging all groups - of all ages, all types of families -
>individual/solo/divorced, etc.
>Keeping the young in and bringing them back to the Church.
>
>And the spirit growing in the group was something marvellous, too.  As
>always.
>Just some of the more important Action Outcome summaries generated - to
>help keep peace and grow peace in this part of our world, too.
>Cheers and blessings,   BRIAN.
>
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