an attempt at an answer

[Jack Ricchiuto]

Resonating with much you say here Lisa. I did a very powerful OS last year with a large faith-based social service organization. We explored some issues that historically polarized some in the community but/and in open space, people felt for the first time heard and honored for their differences. The outcome exceeded the client's expectations, I think, because there was deeper listening than ever before.

A Tibetan teacher I heard recently said that best way to organize any dynamic system is to give it space. One of my teachers once said that in Japanese, the word for hell translates literally as "no space." I am still awe-struck by the suggestion. It suggestions the notion of harmony as giving everyone enough space to be who they are. That's what listening does, and listening is how I respond to pain and joy in all of its expressions. 

As for Harrison, I'm counting on him being here at least for another 45 years because that's how long I expect to be here.

Jack

~~~~~~~~~~
jack ricchiuto
two.one.six/three.seven.three/seven.four.seven.five
www.designinglife.com / www.appreciativeleadership.org 


------------Original Message------------
From: Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Date: Sun, May-22-2005 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: an attempt at an answer
Hey, Raffi -

Of course I support you on doing anything that has heart and meaning for
you.

But I echo what I think are Funda's words - if you do not feel
community, be community.

To me, the OSLIST feels very much like a community - lots of people I
richly enjoy, some people I do not agree with (and still, I usually
enjoy them), a few people who make me crazy (mostly crazy-good,
sometimes crazy-have-to-take-a-breath), lots of support for my different
ways of being, a sense of connection, a sense of shared values even
through different cultures and experiences, also education,
enrichment...

If you feel that Harrison might step aside in order to enable something
else or someone else to come forth, could it be (this is just a guess)
that you are creating the feeling that he is in the way of / preventing
something?  (hmmm - if so, sounds like you give him a lot of power...
;o)  )

If this community / our Open Space is a circle, and every one of us
(both list 'talkers' and list 'witnesses', both the multiply-experienced
and the very-new-to-OST) is in the circle, holding the principles and
law in mind, is this not community?  Can anybody be in the way of
anything different happening when each of us has a choice to do or act
or watch or listen or leave or return?

And hmm.  So some people love every word you say and some feel prickly
or whatever.  Do you want a community that just always says 'oh raffi
every word you say is like a jewel', or do you want difference and
diversity and learning through the struggles and joys of communicating
the challenging stuff?  I suspect that you are committed to the
learning.  And so are so many of us who hold space on this list.  So I
hope you stay, and if you leave, I'll know that you are using the Law of
Two Feet (if you are neither learning nor contributing...) because you
are committed to being fully engaged and need to find that in another
setting/community. And that is something I salute in you...

Warmly,
Lisa

___________________________
L i s a   H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g  S p a c e
2325 Oregon
Berkeley, California
94705-1106   USA
+01 510 548-8449
lisaheft at openingspace.net
www.openingspace.net

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