whatever happens...

[Alan Stewart]

Hi John, Lisa and All

My 'take' on this is that whenever people come together to treat each other well the only thing that could happen is that magic emerges ... 

Is this fatalism? 

My most recent experience of this was last week when Arun Wakhlu from Pune came to visit with me for a few days. 

His visit coincided with a gathering that I had organised - or rather had scheduled in order for him to participate. It is astonishing how people with whom we came into contact at this meeting, and at others also, responded to the feeling of being totally included. Watch this space for what is now germinating in Asia's World City <smile> 

I wonder how this way of intepreting the principle resonates with you and with those to whom you bring it to their attention?   

Go well

With love

Alan 
Hong Kong
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Engle 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 9:22 AM
  Subject: whatever happens...


  Hi fellow listers.

  I know that some have been through this hundreds of times but I'm wanting to get the most recent reflections on the principle:

  Whatever happens is the only thing that could've.

  My colleagues in Haiti and I continue to have smart people from a variety of cultures let us know that this principle doesn't sit well with them. 

  It communicates fatalism to some instead of encouraging responsibility. While i'm totally comfortable with the principle, if enough people tell me that it communicates something to them that is different than what i'm trying to communicate, there's a problem. 

  For me, what's worse is that often times people remember it as: "What happens is that which is supposed to happen" or "There's a reason for everything that happens." This can have us sounding like Christian fundamentalist.

  We've been experimenting in Haitian Creole and in English with this:

  What Happens is what happens - learn and move forward.

  Here's an example of a text that would explain this principle:

  This principle helps us to not lament over should'ves, to not wallow in regrets. We're all responsible for how we use our time and space together during this meeting. Let's assume that responsibility and be prepared to accept what happens and to continually strive to learn and to keep moving forward.

  i covet your thoughts.

  John




  www.johnengle.net Open space facilitation
  www.circlesofchange.com Participatory learning and leadership
  www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting for justice that all may have enough

  telephone Haiti: 509-461-3067

  email: john at johnengle.net 
  telephone: 202-236-6532 
  fax: 202-449-8343 

  John Engle 
  P.O. Box 337 
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