Kairos and OST

[ashley cooper]

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  Paul Tillich
> > <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/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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