whatever happens...

[Christine Whitney Sanchez]

John, I really appreciate you starting this thread because I've run across
some of the same concerns about the sense of fatalism or religious
connotations.  What I've taken to saying is that this principle helps us to
focus on high intention and high attention.  When we hold high intention, we
do everything we can to prepare so that when we are together, we can let go
and pay high attention to what is emerging.
 
Love,
 
Christine
 
Christine Whitney Sanchez
CWS - Collaborative Wisdom & Strategy
2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85048-8990
480.759.0262  phone
480.282.1027  cell
 <http://www.kairosalliance.com/> 
www.christinewhitneysanchez.com <http://www.christinewhitneysanchez.com/> 
 

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of John Engle
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 6:22 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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 <http://johnengle.net>  Open space facilitation
www.circlesofchange.com <http://circlesofchange.com>  Participatory learning
and leadership
www.harvesttime.cc <http://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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