whatever happens...

[douglas germann]

John--

How about "Whatever happens is the only thing that did"?

			:- Doug.

On Mon, 2007-04-23 at 18:22 -0700, John Engle wrote:
> 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 
> Hershey, PA 17033 * *
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