"whatever happens is what could have" to be a general law of the world or a general principle of Spirit. On the contrary, in a world where so many of us refuse to fight for a better and Open World, letting the playfield free for those that pollute the earth, but also the bodies and hearts of the citizens of the world, I think that using at this level the "whatever happens is what could have" is dangerous and, sorry for saying that, even irresponsible." -- Autur
I have a couple of responses Autur. One as a social activist who worked his buns off to change the nature of homelessness in Canada. My social analysis led me to see the root causes of so many things, but particularly homelessness as things that "could" have been different. It could have been different if -- even to the point of saying that if I had done something different in my youth -- protested harder, loved more, had Paul's faith, gone to church more, become a celibate, not rebelled against my parents. I am convinced that had people, governments, citizens, Hitler, Mohammed all made different choices it could have been different. But, they did not make different choices and I cannot remake those choices now. I can only learn from "whatever happened" and make the choice I can make now. It is liberating for me to assume that "what ever happened was the only thing that could have". It is where we have gotten from the combination of choices that were made -- and like Ken Wilbur I think all of reality makes choices in becoming what it is in every moment, not just people. I do believe it empowers participants in Open Space Technology to also assume that during the time together "what ever happens is the only thing that could have". It does help me and others to attend to what is possible now -- and do it (or not). As for Ongoing Open Space always working. The relationship of an Open Space Technology event to an ongoing organizational form is the learning journey I am on with others. Large, complex, hierarchical organizations will not become OS organizations because of an event or a series of events. It can enable such an organization to experience "flow" to function at another level. But it does not eliminate the hierarchy or the need for it in that organization. It can "transcend and include". But include means the best of what has worked in the past (whatever happened) to get that organization where it is. It takes a shift to another level of consciousness, culture, behaviour and system interaction -- all levels and all quadrants for an existing complex organization to become an OSO. They are not there yet, most of us are not either -- whatever happens is the only thing that could've. You can tell I've been home with a cold. Larry Larry Peterson Associates in Transformation Toronto, ON, Canada 416.653.4829 [email protected] www.spiritedorg.com * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
