Finn's bear is safe

[Chris Corrigan]

Hi Christy,

I was thinking of that too - and merging with the "whatever happens is the
only thing that could have happened" conversation that is floating about.
Holding that principle inside actually helped me to be fully present with
Finn in his emotions when it happened - that combination of a fully open
heart and a mind open to the not knowing how it would or even should turn
out but trusting of what is happening, noticing how the result was a very
strong connection (being present for Finn, not feeling the need to squash or
distract his emotional response as it moved through various stages of shock
and grief to calm and possibility) and full availability for wise action
(getting the help we needed to get the bear down if possible).  I was also
able to appreciate the beauty of what the moment was also bringing: of
Finn's feelings, what he was learning about gravity, surprise, being able to
be sad and how many people care about him among other gifts.

It also strikes me as an example of trusting and allowing longer stretches
of time for events to unfold and not judging their rightness or wrongness on
what is happening in the moment - thus less of an impulse arises to control
the outcome.  Finn's bear was with us in our thoughts in a different way on
our camping trip, Finn is now thinking of the people who used some enormous
ladder to retrieve his bear, his new friend Jeff driving to the Presidio to
fetch is beloved bear, carefully wrapping and sending it home to us.  When
the bear arrives - we are all changed by the experience in our own way - and
it takes weeks to unfold.  Sometimes things take years, decades, centuries
and we can't possibly track all the ways "whatever happened" in that
particular moment plays into the bigger design of it all.  Even things as
small or momentarily disastrous as a lost teddy bear.

Anyway - lots of philosophy for a travelling bear.....  but we were ripe for
it after some great days in Open Space.

See you soon,

Caitln.

On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM, Christy Lee-Engel <cdleee at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Caitlin,
>
> How good to know that Finn's bear is on its way home!
>
> It makes me think about the place of the Bear in the Open Space menagerie.
> Maybe something about patience and endurance in love? Going away for a while
> and coming home at last? Something about the sometimes quick, sometimes
> slow, cyclical rhythm of exuberance, and sadness, and celebration?
>
> Thank you for sharing the happy resolution!
>
> love, Christy
>
> --
> Christy Lee-Engel, ND, LAc
> Seattle, WA
> 206.399.0868
> http://lifecultivatinglife.blogspot.com
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 11:59 PM, Caitlin Frost <caitlin.frost at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> In the very last minutes of OsOnOs in San Francisco - our son Finn tossed
>> his teddy bear into the air in a joyful moment and astonishingly it did not
>> come down again as it had landed in the lighting bowl way up in the
>> ceiling.  There were many tears and the summoning of the longest ladders and
>> kind helpers but nothing could reach his beloved bear, and we headed out on
>> our camping trip sans bear with a sad boy.
>> This week the big ladders were called in and the staff at the Presidio
>> rescued Finn's bear, and Jeff Aitken is kindly mailing him home for Finn.
>> Thanks Jeff!
>> Just wanted to give the happy ending to those of you who were there and
>> helping and consoling.
>> All is well and Finn sends out his thanks for all your help.
>>
>> Thanks again for a great time in San Francisco.  It was wonderful to
>> finally meet so many of you.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Caitlin.
>>
>> --
>> "It all turns out to be a gift."
>> Byron Katie.
>>
>> CAITLIN M FROST
>> Facilitation, Coaching, Project Management,
>> Principal - Harvest Moon Consultants Ltd.
>>
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-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training - Process Design
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com

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