Kairos and OST

[Harrison Owen]

Very perceptive! It is also a little funny. Paul Tillich was one of my
teachers, maybe my central teacher. His deep and rich understanding of
Kairos was and remains an abiding gift to me - and when I tried to explore
and explain what for me was the core understanding (experience) of Open
Space, it was all about NOW. In fact I wrote a book with the odd title,
"Expanding our Now." And to some real extent the title and the thought was a
"knock-off" of Tillich's book, "The Eternal Now." Well the truth had to come
out sooner or later.

 

Harrison

 

If you are interested, I suspect the book is still in print, but the copy I
have is 1964, published by Scribners. Pretty heavy duty "Christian" stuff
(sermons no less) - but good for all of that. 

 

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!

hhowen at verizon.net

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20845

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com


Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of ashley
cooper
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 12:06 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Kairos and OST

 

Hello,

I often think of OST as a means of creating conditions that assist
individuals in greater listening to self and to others... expanding
awareness and deepening connection.  A friend recently wrote to me, teaching
me about the word Kairos:

"Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the "right or opportune moment". It
is now used in theology to describe the qualitative form of time. In
rhetoric kairos is "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be
driven through with force if success is to be achieved." (E. C. White,
Kaironomia p. 13)" 


Living my life in Open Space has really intensified my awareness and
recognition of kairos. The principles and law are my little friends,
whispering sweet encouragement into my ears, reminding me that what is of
essence arises at the right time, it is only myself that must rest into
patience and acceptance. OST has helped me recognize the "right or opportune
moment" when it is present, whenever it starts is the right time, when it's
over, it's over. Listening for the wisdom emerging in the group, listening
for what needs to be spoken has helped tune me into that passing instant
when an opening appears, and the law of two feet, taking responsibility for
what I love, drives me in with guided forcefulness

 

"In The Interpretation of History, Lutheran theologian
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Paul+Tillich> Paul Tillich
(August 20, 1886 - October 22, 1965) was a German-American theologian and
Christian existentialist philosopher made prominent use of the term. For
him, the kairoi are those crises in history which create an opportunity for,
and indeed demand, an existential decision by the human subject." 


It is my sense that this is what so many of us Open Space facilitators are
sniffing out. Our attention is awake and attuned to the aromas of crises in
history which create an opportunity for, and indeed demand, an existential
decision by the human subject. From my perception so many of you not only
acknowledge and honor these moments but at the same time, open and hold the
space for as many individuals as possible to rise to this occasion. You open
space, creating a container within which people are ready and listening, and
at the right and opportune moment they gracefully embody and move forth with
their existential decision.

I give thanks for each of you and for the living entity of Open Space,
sharing its gifts with the world.

Ashley 


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