[OSList] Wave Riding in OZ

Harrison Owen hhowen at verizon.net
Fri Nov 22 12:44:24 PST 2013


Our friend, Michael Wood, dropped me a note with a wonderful story. By all
rights I should have asked him to share, but the story is so good, I just
couldn't wait, and Michael, if I need to apologize, please consider it
offered. J

 

So it is all about Wave Riding in OZ with a most unlikely set of characters.
Anglican (Episcopalian) clergy! Being one of those, I can tell you from
personal history and experience that there are few groups in this world more
staunchly conservative and resistant to change. This is not surprising as we
have had many hundreds of years to perfect our stance, and in an odd sort of
way, we do it rather well - staying exactly the same. Thank you. The thought
that such a group could find meaning and purpose in the arcane art of Wave
Riding is marvelous...not to say mind blowing!

 

And to all you folks who may wonder whether or how traditional sorts in
business and government might respond to opening a little space and hopping
a wave I can tell you that stranger things do happen. Case in point. And
actually, those business and government folks are just pussy cats and late
comers when it comes to resistance to change. 

 

But enough of that. On to the story... (with many thanks and apologies to
Michael)

 

"Over the last few months it's been fun to support some Anglican Church
folks (lay and ordained) in Brisbane get into Waveriding  mode (Brendan
McKeauge has also been working with some Catholic Education people in
Brisbane), and I have another program in February. As you know, clergy
generally and certainly Anglican clergy, were taught the intricacies of
control. Now, increasingly  they know it doesn't work. If they don't know
it, then a lot of them are moving into internal melt down as the external
system of the church unravels around them. Fortunately a few of them are
recognizing that control doesn't work and it's some of those guys and gals
that I've started to work with, sharing OST and Waveriding principles and a
bit of work with Talking Circles. They're lovin' it. Saying they're feeling
revitalised already.

 

It's early days of course and plenty of potential to be swamped by the
existing culture. But so far I've worked with 30 people, 45 by the end of
February. They are keen to support each other and have already started to do
things differently, and see the world differently. On the third morning of
our time together, after they've actually experienced a couple of days of
self-organised action learning,  I invited them to reflect on the question,
'was Jesus a Waverider'? Then the pennies start to drop at a really deep
level. When we drop it down to that level I hope it will help them to hang
in there with the living experiment. No longer just a passing 'fad' about
how to run a meeting,  but a more profound way of going with the flow of
reality.

 

The primary sponsor in Brisbane, Peter Catt is the Dean of St. John's
Cathedral in Brisbane. He has been the local champion and sat in on the
first program. In the closing circle Peter said, 'some people ask me how I
can be Dean in a place the size of St. John's and look so relaxed all the
time [I'd been thinking precisely that].it's because I believe that reality
looks like that [pointing to the four principles and one law on the wall]. I
think the definition of wisdom is to run with the way the world actually is,
and stupidity is to fight against it'.  Sums it up pretty well doesn't it."

 

And don't you just love Peter Catt, The Dean! 

 

 

Thank You Michael!

 

Harrison

 

 

 

 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA

 

189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)

Camden, Maine 04843

 

Phone 301-365-2093

(summer)  207-763-3261

 

www.openspaceworld.com 

www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

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