Harrison and all you lovers out there, Thank you for once again speaking to my heart. Two weeks ago, I came to the end of an exhilarating, exhausting whirlwind of work that has carried me over the past couple of years. Multiple adventures with many dear clients and colleagues. And then it was over. No wind at all. Grief set in. I have been asking many questions, not the least of which is, What am I going to do with the rest of my life?
I find myself in That incredible time without time in the moment between breathing out and breathing in. Nothing there and everything is potential. The pregnant void. I am doing my best to rest in the arms of the Universe. And so I appreciate all of you who are holding the space, in love and awakened awareness, so that I might rest and wait . . . until it is time to cross the space. Christine Whitney Sanchez Milagro Organizational Consulting, Inc. 2717 E. Mountain Sky Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85048-8990 480.759.0262 voice 480.759.0403 fax Inviting miracles in our Work! -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 6:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Love and Crossing Open Space There has never been a question in my mind -- Love is what makes the space go round. Or something. But how to understand that Love? Or better, How to be it? Love is one of those wonderful words, at least in English, that can mean just about anything you want. It seems to stretch all the way from raw fornication to Divine Essence, and I suppose everything in between. In the very early '80s I found myself thinking a lot about Transformation in Organizations and the way in which the Griefwork process enabled that process for individuals -- and for organizations as well, I thought. Starting from the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and friends I identified a sequence of stages it seemed we all went through when chaos shattered our lives in one way or another. Shock/Anger, Denial, Memories, Despair, Open Space, End/Vision. There is good old Open Space right in the middle! But for me at the time, it had nothing to do with a "Meeting Methodology" -- rather the searing/peaceful moment when it is all over and all starting. That incredible time without time in the moment between breathing out and breathing in. Nothing there and everything is potential. We all reach such a space as individuals or organizations sooner or later. Nobody would choose it for sure. So how do we cross that space? Some of choose not to, and that is called "cashing in the chips" -- But if we do cross it, or at least when I have crossed it, the "decision" to go was made in response to a question -- What was I going to do with the rest of my life? Note it is a question and not a statement or a plan. Questions create space. Statements close it off. And the quality of asking always seemed to me to be critical. It can not be an idle question -- rather a question posed in Love. But what would this Love be? For me, Love has two faces. One (which we all enjoy) is called Acceptance. We are taken just the way we are, warts and all, no further question. But that is not the only face of love. The other is Challenge. And we often don't like this one too much. This is the expectation that we become everything that we could be... nothing more, nothing less. Love, it seems to me, is neither Acceptance nor Challenge, but rather the space in between. And the magnitude of Love is measured by the distance between. Great Love is ultimate acceptance and ultimate challenge. When we hear the question (What are you going to do with the rest of your life?) asked with compassionate acceptance and radical challenge it becomes possible to deal with our inadequacies and failures while simultaneously moving on, across The Open Space to some new Vision for our existence. At least that is my story. When Open Space Technology appeared in the spirit of Two Martinis, what struck me was the way in which this age old transformational drama seemed to be taking place before my eyes. People were crossing Open Space. And so the name -- Open Space. And I believe every time we Open Space, that drama can take place again (no guarantees) provided we start with a question (which itself is Open Space) and travel with Love. Not just warm fuzzy love, but also the hard Love of radical challenge. So if we are to talk about the central act or meaning of Holding Space -- I think Love will do it. Once the space is open and the folks are at work, there is nothing to do but take folks just the way they are, no matter what shows up AND expect the very best. Acceptance and Challenge -- just Love. I find that really doing all of the above is not accomplished with out energy and intention. So at the end of every Open Space, when I have really done my job, I feel pretty much like wilted spaghetti, but happily so, So that went on a little longer than I anticipated. And if you are a real glutton for punishment you might check out my last book, "The Power of Spirit." Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected] Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
