Author: Tenneson Woolf

Check it out. Kathy Jourdain, Jerry Nagel, Janet Trump and I explore some wonder and wander on the meaning of it all. In groups. In society. In ourselves.

The basic format is to share what feels interesting to us. Work stuff. Life stuff. Figured out stuff. Puzzing stuff. Joyful stuff. Frustrating stuff. No scripts. Just present moment attentiveness. Honesty. And playfulness.

And then we wonder about the medicine found therein. It’s quite a thing to be human, in friendships that know and value curiosity together. It’s one of the ways that I most like to live and find most fruitful and most delightful.

This is a slow format. It’s 53 minutes. Not meant to be a microwave. We’ll have a few more. Thx for listening. If you want to join the conversation live — email me.

There is power in simplicity. And beauty. Like these birds. Gathering, then flying, then repeating. There is power in simplicity of group facilitation. And beauty. Gathering. Flying. Repeating.

I keep learning this.

Last night I co-hosted a group of faith community leaders. It was Zoom, Zoom — online for 2 hours, a group of eleven. It was a first meeting for me with this group in progress, imagining their way to their community’s next steps of planning and integration.

Our design was simple and beautiful.

Set Good Context

We spoke it out loud. “This meeting is about leadership and governance. Let’s do that well. What lives nearby leadership and governance is belonging and becoming. So that we lift connection. And courage. And compassionate action. In our leadership and our governance.”

Ask Good Questions (Circles); Then Listen

1. Who are you? How did you come about love of church and community?
2. Who are we? What’s possible? To do, to discover, to get messy with, to be inspired on behalf of, to evolve?
3. Do you feel freedom to experiment? How might we grow that?
4. What might we need to learn about “saying no to good things”?
5. When we are further along in this work, what would you want to be proud of?

Close Well

What was one of the gifts you got tonight?

I keep learning. To trust simplicity. To trust the group with simplicity. And beauty. That helps the group go well together — leadership, governance, and community — with things they care about.

To gather. Then fly. Then repeat.

And thx Katharine Weinmann, who posted and reflected on this John Roedel piece a few days ago.

I’ve found myself using lines from this a couple of times ever since. Like, “I don’t want to
blaze a path for you ~ I want to get lost with you ~” It suggests something about the “co” part of “co-learning.” It also says something about the never before encountered. And about the pre-supposition that there is wisdom in us that wishes to be found together.

Enjoy the read. I did. “Flow with me.” Until “your ear is shaped like your heart.”

Influencer
John Roedel

I don’t want to to sound out of touch,
but I really am exhausted by the word “influencer”

that word suggests trying to
have control over somebody else

and there is already
too much of that going
in the world already

I don’t like the term
“clout” either

that word is too fickle for me

whenever I desire power it feels like I’m trying to hold a melting ice cube in my hand

I don’t want to
sway anyone

I want to serve them

I don’t want to
blaze a path for you

~ I want to get lost with you ~

to crave authority
would require me
to surrender
my amateur status

and I quite love being
a newbie here with you here

I don’t want to guide you down
this River

I want to enjoy the ride with you
until we reach the great waterfall

don’t follow me
flow with me

and as we go

let’s not influence
each other to be like us

instead

let’s listen to
each other

until our ears become
shaped like our hearts

~ John Roedel from his upcoming poetry collection “wonderache” ~

Getting close. Exciting.

Today I meet with Bi, a soul brother. He’s helping create the cover and formatting. And he’s confidante in making choices for the book.

Near done. Exciting to feel that flow. I’ve also created a set of Question Cards that will likely add accessibility and simplicity of applied practice.

The forward is by Meg Wheatley. We’ve been in some layer of cahoots now for 30 years. I’m glad for her wisdom and blessing.

Here’s a teaser…

“Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories that I know — the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us — sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other. It is the most simple of containers, yet so often the most lasting of experiences.”

Almost done. Final proof copy review today. Glad to contribute with words, insights, questions, clarities, encouragements.