Strugglelessness

[Chris Corrigan]

Hi all:

Here is another teaching about struggle, this one from Sto:lo Elder Herb 
Joe, who lives not too far away from me. He shared this story in the context 
of a meeting we were doing together in which we were working with a group 
that was struggling with issues of transcending the "I-YOU" and trying to 
become a "WE:"

Central to the Sto:lo creation story, in which all beings receive their 
purpose, is the notion of struggle. In the story, the Creator makes the 
earth and then creates all the creatures of the earth, including the winged 
animals that fly, the four-leggeds that run on the land, the animals that 
crawl across the earth and the animals that swim. Each of these animals were 
created perfectly.

When all these animals were created, the Creator looked around and noticed 
that something was missing. So humans were created. To do this, the Creator 
took a little bit from each animal and rolled it up into what Herbcalled 
"poor, weak, human beings." "The Halqemelum word he used for "humans" 
implies this meaning. The reason we are poor and weak is that we can do lots 
of things, but none of it well. We can fly a little, but we fall heavily to 
earth. We can run, but not as fast as a deer or a cougar. We crawl, but 
beetles and spiders can stick to the ceiling. And we swim, but nothing like 
a salmon. In short, we struggle.

Herb finished the story by saying that it is our destiny to struggle because 
by struggling we learn and that is what we are put on earth to do.

So I leave you with that.

Chris

.

On 8/12/05, Judith Richardson PONO Consultants International <
judir at accesswave.ca> wrote:
> 
> What a wonderful exploration. I have chosen to make friends with the word
> struggle and find very little need to use it in my language any more. As I
> learn at deeper and deeper levels what being is.
> 
> I could hear from John Engle's post the underlying desire of his very
> trembling heart as he looks around Haiti - a land John has learned to love
> and call home. My son, Scott, lived in Sri Lanka doing a project and I
> heard his trembling heart. I, too, have felt that tremble. I feel that
> heart in Lisa Heft in her work and many others here. I saw that heart in
> Filiz as she fearlessly agreed to step into the circle at OSonOS 2005 and
> open space for a non-convergence in an "oral" tradition. I've been
> privileged to work in many parts of the world in human rights and peace
> initiatives. And, yes, even restorative justice initiatives in prisons. I
> left the work I was doing in human rights several years ago as aggression
> breeds agression -- period, and I realized I was feeling agressive more 
> than
> anything else. Funny thing how pushing attracts that push back.
> 
> What I am coming to learn is that I cannot be poor enough to help the 
> poor,
> sick enough to help the sick, etc. By learning to hold space anywhere I
> am -- bringing my mindfulness practice off the meditation cushion and into
> each moment -- I bring myself more fully to the world. In quantum physics,
> energy flows where attention goes -- I choose to focus my attention, as 
> much
> as possible, on what is working. To bring my vitality and essence to the
> situation and hold that space for others. It is a learning process for me 
> to
> sit in a circle where mothers' have no food for their children and to 
> bring
> my heart fully -- holding the compassion, hope, grief, and possibilities 
> and
> potential all at the same time. To honor and love situations and people
> where they are. To have the humility to listen fully, to invite the 
> problem
> to speak to itself. To notice what happens in myself when returning to my
> amazingly luxurious life in a peaceful place -- surrounded by flowers and
> trees, birds, and fresh water.
> 
> It is those challenging times of practicing "whatever happens is the only
> thing that could" or "everything is perfect in itself" or "surely the
> presence of God is in this moment" -- that become the greatest gifts. I
> notice that funerals are one of the most amazing places to be as people,
> families, all relax their grudges for a while.
> 
> So -- rather than struggling, what is possible when I become friendly with
> each moment, when I truly extend the energy of welcome to each and every
> situation? If I choose struggle as my "houseguest" today -- I can simply
> choose to notice, breath deeply and open more space in my heart -- pet the
> dog -- and ask for the jewel to reveal itself as I befriend and welcome 
> the
> situation I'm struggling with. What I find there is an inspired action.
> The emotional journey is always necessary before or in collaboration with
> the action journey -- and both are sweet.
> 
> Thank you, again, great hearts of the OSList,
> 
> Judi in Heavenfax!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Karen
> Sella
> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 5:28 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: FW: powerful poem! help me understand it.
> 
> 
> Greetings All,
> 
> A quick thought regarding the banishment of "struggle"... maybe the use
> in the poem (beautiful, thank you, Kairi, for sharing it!) refers more
> to the violent, oppositional aspects of struggle and less to the more
> common use of the word to describe persistence in the face of great
> difficulty?
> 
> Vi 1: to make strenuous or violent efforts against opposition: CONTEND
> 2: to proceed with great difficulty or with great effort
> 
> N 1: CONTEST: STRIFE 2: a violent effort or exertion: an act of strongly
> motivated striving
> 
> Warm regards,
> Karen
> 
> 
> Karen Sella
> www.luminacoaching.com <http://www.luminacoaching.com>
> 206.780.2998
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of john
> engle
> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 12:17 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: powerful poem! help me understand it.
> 
> hi brendan, kairi and others.
> 
> i've never opened space in a prison but i have participated in a
> touchstones
> discussion (http://touchstones.org) with about 25 men serving life
> sentences. the discussion centered around "power" and not surprisingly,
> i
> learned a great deal.
> 
> great that you are doing this! i look forward to following developments
> as
> you work toward opening space in prisons.
> 
> on another subject, kairi, thank you for sharing that poem in your
> message.
> i love it! and, i loved being at OSonOS! Judi, you and your team did a
> great
> job at receiving us and making us feel at home.
> 
> while i love the spirit of the poem, i just don't know what to do with
> "banish the word struggle from your vocabulary." how do others see this?
> 
> removing the word struggle from MY vocabulary seems like it could have
> some
> positive outcomes. at the same time, it's hard for me to think of a
> better
> word that describes daily life for so many people. and, not
> acknowledging
> this seems like i might be missing something as i work with folks in
> circumstances so much different from my own.
> 
> i'm in haiti as i write and catching up with friends and colleagues.
> there
> are at least hundreds of thousands of people here--some estimate in the
> millions--that don't consume a meal each day. and when they do, they
> don't
> know when they'll eat next. i can't begin to imagine what living with so
> 
> much uncertainty and discomfort must be like. and i've also learned that
> far
> too often we who live in financially prosperous countries romance
> poverty,
> saying that poor people are happier.
> 
> it serves us (people who live in financially prosperous countries) well
> to
> see things this way and it pains me when i have US American visitors
> with me
> in Haiti and conclude after a week here that the people are "so happy."
> in
> many cultures, those in the southern countries included, it is
> appropriate
> to put one's best face forward especially when meeting visitors. those
> same
> Haitians who looked so happy to the visitor might be totally stressed
> out
> because they're worrying about how they're going to pay school fees for
> their kids and get a meal together, etc. when they speak in their own
> language to me, "struggle" projects from their facial expressions, body
> movement and words.
> 
> i would not feel comfortable asking folks who live such realities to
> remove
> "struggle" from their vocabulary.
> 
> thanks for your patience as i vent and live emotions connected to being
> with
> friends in extremely difficult situations.
> 
> john
> 
> 
> http://JohnEngle.net
> email: john at johnengle.net
> P.O. Box 337
> Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
> tel. 202-236-6532
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Brendan McKeague <mckeague at iprimus.com.au>
> >Reply-To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> >To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> >Subject: Re: There is a river flowing now very fast
> >Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 08:26:54 +0800
> >
> >
> >"Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary.
> >All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
> >aahhh....thank you so much Kairi
> >
> >What a moment to receive this gift - the start of a brand new
> >day...beautiful and inspiring...today I will let go a wee bit more...
> >I am about to depart for a day's 'space-making' in a maximum security
> >prison with long-term offenders..
> >I will be present and holding space with individual men - my dream is
> that
> >one day there may be more collective open space within such
> confinement...
> >.
> >Anyone ever opened space in a prison?
> >
> >peace to all
> >Brendan
> >
> >*
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-- 

CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

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