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At 10:08 AM 9/23/01 -0700, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>A friend sent me this description
of a vision from someone of the Choctaw<br>
Nation of Oklahoma. I don't claim to understand it, but it is
intriguing.<br>
Any comments?<br>
<br>
Julie</blockquote><br>
May have missed the point completely -- but I think I know exactly what
Rabid was talking about. And curiously enough it is about what I was
considering at the end of my preceding message. It is all about standing
<i>without blame or judgement, having no attachment to specific
outcomes</i>... what we do when we create, and hold space ... the very
hardest part. Always, and particularly now -- when and as we hold
space for the community in which there will doubtless be all sorts of
notions which we may find totally abhorrent. How about a session on
"Nuke the Bastards"? -- or "Kill a Raghead for Jesus"
as I was admonished in a recent email. God knows whether these folks mean
it or not.. Is it just blowing off steam -- or the beginning of something
truly horrible? And we are supposed to stand there, "Without blame
or judgement" just holding space???? Unfortunately, I think the
answer is Yes. Yes, when we take on the role of "space holder."
Of course that doesn't mean that we can't have our own opinions, and for
sure we do. But the hard lesson is that those opinions, when we are
holding the space -- have no space in that space. Another time, another
space -- surely we (each of us) must work for what we believe in... but
when the space is open, and we take responsibility for its integrity, I
firmly believe the role is different. Not easy for sure. <br>
<br>
Rabid put it all in different word, and maybe more directly.<br>
<br>
"We are left with no choices, no options. This is by Creator's own
hand. He<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>has made it so. The only
alternative is not to participate. We must each<br>
take a step, whether left or right, forward or back, one step to the
center<br>
and STOP.<br>
<br>
We do not have the luxury of continuing as we have.<br>
<br>
If you have been slinging dirt, trying to show others why this has
happened,<br>
STOP.<br>
<br>
If you have been calling for peace, even marching in the streets,
STOP.<br>
<br>
If you have been standing for justice, STOP.<br>
<br>
If you have been seeking revenge, STOP.<br>
<br>
Regardless or what we do, it will bring only war. If you defame and<br>
demonstrate, you tell this man he has already won - there is a breach in
our<br>
resolve.<br>
<br>
If you call for war, you give him what he desires and again he has
won.<br>
<br>
If you call for "justice" in the courts of the world, he knows
himself that<br>
they are twisted beyond ethical recourse, and he has won.<br>
<br>
To follow the way of love is always a good thing, but that presupposes
that<br>
the other party is capable of understanding or even caring.<br>
<br>
Remember, "Never fight a battle you cannot win. Second, ALWAYS
choose your<br>
battles."<br>
<br>
The only hope we have is to not participate. Either we all learn
this<br>
lesson, together, at the same time, or we perish.<br>
<br>
We must allow Creator to do what he is doing. Take your hands away from
this<br>
thing. In that he has given us no choice, Creator has taken away
our<br>
responsibility. In that way, he has given us the opportunity to
avoid<br>
falling into the traps set by all parties concerned.<br>
<br>
Let all things be what they are and what they wish to
be.</blockquote><br>
Is he right? Am I right? Who knows. I guess we will find out.<br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
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