Love and Crossing Open Space

Thu May 2 12:17:26 PDT 2002

Harrison and all you lovers out there,

Thank you for once again speaking to my heart.  Two weeks ago, I came to the
end of an exhilarating, exhausting whirlwind of work that has carried me
over the past couple of years.  Multiple adventures with many dear clients
and colleagues.  And then it was over.  No wind at all.  Grief set in.  I
have been asking many questions, not the least of which is, What am I going
to do with the rest of my life?

I find myself in That incredible time without time in the moment between
breathing out and breathing in. Nothing there and everything is potential.
The pregnant void.  I am doing my best to rest in the arms of the Universe.

And so I appreciate all of you who are holding the space, in love and
awakened awareness, so that I might rest and wait . . . until it is time to
cross the space.

Christine Whitney Sanchez
Milagro Organizational Consulting, Inc.
2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85048-8990
480.759.0262  voice
480.759.0403  fax

Inviting miracles in our Work!
  -----Original Message-----
  From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
  Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 6:11 AM
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  Subject: Love and Crossing Open Space

  There has never been a question in my mind -- Love is what makes the space
go round. Or something. But how to understand that Love? Or better, How to
be it?

  Love is one of those wonderful words, at least in English, that can mean
just about anything you want. It seems to stretch all the way from raw
fornication to Divine Essence, and I suppose everything in between. In the
very early '80s I found myself thinking a lot about Transformation in
Organizations and the way in which the Griefwork process enabled that
process for individuals -- and for organizations as well, I thought.
Starting from the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and friends I identified a
sequence of stages it seemed we all went through when chaos shattered our
lives in one way or another. Shock/Anger, Denial, Memories, Despair, Open
Space, End/Vision. There is good old Open Space right in the middle! But for
me at the time, it had nothing to do with a "Meeting Methodology" -- rather
the searing/peaceful moment when it is all over and all starting. That
incredible time without time in the moment between breathing out and
breathing in. Nothing there and everything is potential. We all reach such a
space as individuals or organizations sooner or later. Nobody would choose
it for sure. So how do we cross that space?

  Some of choose not to, and that is called "cashing in the chips" -- But if
we do cross it, or at least when I have crossed it, the "decision" to go was
made in response to a question -- What was I going to do with the rest of my
life? Note it is a question and not a statement or a plan. Questions create
space. Statements close it off. And the quality of asking always seemed to
me to be critical. It can not be an idle question -- rather a question posed
in Love.

  But what would this Love be? For me, Love has two faces. One (which we all
enjoy) is called Acceptance. We are taken just the way we are, warts and
all, no further question. But that is not the only face of love. The other
is Challenge. And we often don't like this one too much. This is the
expectation that we become everything that we could be... nothing more,
nothing less. Love, it seems to me, is neither Acceptance nor Challenge, but
rather the space in between. And the magnitude of Love is measured by the
distance between. Great Love is ultimate acceptance and ultimate challenge.

  When we hear the question (What are you going to do with the rest of your
life?) asked with compassionate acceptance and radical challenge it becomes
possible to deal with our inadequacies and failures while simultaneously
moving on, across The Open Space to some new Vision for our existence. At
least that is my story.

  When Open Space Technology appeared in the spirit of Two Martinis, what
struck me was the way in which this age old transformational drama seemed to
be taking place before my eyes. People were crossing Open Space. And so the
name -- Open Space. And I believe every time we Open Space, that drama can
take place again (no guarantees) provided we start with a question (which
itself is Open Space) and travel with Love. Not just warm fuzzy love, but
also the hard Love of radical challenge.

  So if we are to talk about the central act or meaning of Holding Space --
I think Love will do it. Once the space is open and the folks are at work,
there is nothing to do but take folks just the way they are, no matter what
shows up AND expect the very best. Acceptance and Challenge -- just Love. I
find that really doing all of the above is not accomplished with out energy
and intention. So at the end of every Open Space, when I have really done my
job, I feel pretty much like wilted spaghetti, but happily so,

  So that went on a little longer than I anticipated. And if you are a real
glutton for punishment you might check out my last book, "The Power of
Spirit."

  Harrison

  Harrison Owen
  7808 River Falls Drive
  Potomac, MD 20854 USA
  phone 301-365-2093
  Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
  Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
  Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm

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