[OSList] Happy Birthday and a timely memory

Chris Kloth via OSList oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Thu Dec 1 18:41:44 PST 2016


Happy birthday, Harrison.

You and the OSLIST continue to inspire me - even in my lurker role of  
recent years.

This year your birthday happens when many of us are still thinking,  
talking, wondering and lots of other ...ings about the US election.  
The memory this triggers for me is of the election night you spent at  
our house in Columbus 16 years ago.

We had combined an opening of space for Diane Bennett and Action for  
Children with a one day intro to OST before and after election day.  
(BTW, that work with early childhood education continues to grow,  
thrive, and influence others in ways we never imagined.)

Anyway, as the night got later and it was clear we were not going to  
know the outcome for quite some time (hanging chads in Florida and  
more mishigas). You decided to go to bed and, as you left the family  
room you complained light-heartedly, "I don't know if I've been  
Bush-whacked or Gored."

The last 16 years brought us challenges and opportunities none of us  
imagined at that time. Many of the opportunities grew out of how our  
work in particular communities (rooted in geography, professions,  
faith, culture, passion, responsibility, etc.) in the context of what  
was going on nationally and globally.

While I have many questions and concerns about the next 4 years in the  
US and beyond, this memory reminds me that (a) we will likely make it  
through whatever is to come, one way or another, and (b) that if we  
live in the spirit of OST and open our hearts, spirits and minds to  
one another we will find ways to open the space we need to make the  
best of it... whether that space opens in planned events or  
spontaneous, serendipitous moments of opportunity that occur  and that  
we will have made ourselves available to notice and take advantage of.

Best wishes, my friend.


-- 
Shalom,

Chris Kloth
ChangeWorks of the Heartland
254 South Merkle Road
Bexley, OH 43209-1801
ph 614-239-1336
fax 614-237-2347
www.got2change.com

Think globally. Act locally.

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