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Human to Human

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What is Ripe In You?

A harvest poem I harvested from a recent lovely circle in FL. It may not be true, but it is how I remembered it. The circle was hosted deliciously by Holly Masturzo. Literally — the talking piece was a FL orange. It was on the last day of a four day Art of Hosting training on Applied Practice in Change Leadership. This was a check-in circle, a circle of beauty, honesty, tenderness — human beings together in deep friendship and work. Each phrase takes me back to those who spoke and to the feeling of community and the commitment to work in a way that matters.

What is Ripe in You?

To the deeper essence — no pretence.
Embraced in the gravitational field.
Thanks and love to fierce Finn.

In and out at the same time.
With courage to live in the question without looking over my shoulder.

Embodied redemption — no exemption.
In heart, soul, body — living in the transforming.

I’m ripe in my silence. In beauty, churning and learning.

Hearing the Indian man chanting, I’m ripe for gravity.

I’m opening another aperture through hugs from my friends, and speaking my language,
knowin’ seeds, deeds of the heart.
Becoming me in becoming you.

Juuuuiiiicccyyy as Jiiiilllllll are these seeds.
I have people. I have people.
Greetin’ the next century breathing.

I’m a councilor but never thought the group could be so powerful.
Wow! What is this? Hmmm.
There really is power in the group and the people every day.

Sweet, the treat, feelin’ a day in two minutes.
Profound intimacy in the circle of meeting anew.

Cookin’ — ready to nurture in my family and in my self.

Lookin’ at Lina and seein’ it grow.
It? Shit! It? Friendship. Friendfull.

I’m missing my wife today. You remind me of her.
We so desparately need to bring the divine feminine, restoring wholeness, in men and women.

There is no wonder in the problem. I’m shifting to the dream.
The dream in the team of bigger, bigger, bigger.

As people laugh, I stretch my listening.
Even when I can’t hear, I see the glistening
of the blue sky and the simplicity of the rain.

Possibility is ripe. No hype. Keepin’ it in sight
this journey of being human, being spirit
renews my wonder to keep goin’, to keep seein’.

Sucked in as a newbee. Who knew!
New words embracing me as I cry out my sharing in this real world.

Tiiime for this girl to start swimmin’
in my joy and in my sadness.
My motion is to the ocean — being me. The gift of being me.

The utter beautiful power of love to create
at the core of the soar.

In the whiff of orange oil, I now know things I never heard of 15 years ago.
I’m holdin’ the course, even through broken teeth in the mountains and rivers.
Not just me. Remindin’ of my unity in community.

Hmmm. No words to give for this gift.
This looking in your eyes to the skies
of hope and all that is possible.
Willin’ to laugh and wiggle.

Keep practicin’. Keep learnin’. Even in the turnin’.
With people, I’m practicin’ being curious.

At Hope Community Center, we know what are people suffer from.
We know about living in the past and the present.
We can stop that in our presence.

I was invited here. To find out about others that are building like this.
To inspire and conspire.
I’m happy. Followin’ my heart, my part in the start.

What keeps coming is courage — time for me to show up.

I’m into the stuff that isn’t sexy. That’s sexy.
I’m not always drawn to the flesh and the juice.
But I am drawn to what feeds me, to what seeds me.
Just the rind.

I’m offering a piece. Without lease.
Back to my start of the dolphin.
Maybe I’m ready to get out of the chaos.

I’m back.
And I’m ripe now.
Through my heavy load, seein’ this place in my core that is spotted and has me not breathin’.
I’m into the space, into the space.
Breathin’ hurts.
Breathin’ helps.
Keep breathin’.
Keep showin’ up.

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Call to Civility and Community

An initiative in Utah through the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community. An invitation from Executive Director, John Kesler, as well as the text that has been broadly endorsed in the state. What I appreciate in this is the dedication it takes to create a document and invite support for it. Where I have most interest is now in the “how” of this happening. Bringing the guidelines to life in real-time practice and conversation.

Dear supporters of the Civility and Community Initiative,
If you were not able to make it to the Dialogue on Democracy gathering a couple of weeks ago, we were able to announce endorsement of the statement by the executive and judicial leadership of the State as well as the Utah State Bar and the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable.
We are hoping to obtain a joint resolution of support from the Utah State Legislature when the Legislature convenes in January, and in the mean time will be going after endorsement by the editorial boards of the major media in Utah.
The goal is then to pursue a handful of demonstration projects during 2009, and find ways to make a real impact after that. Future convening includes monthly meetings.

Download one-page document here.

Posted on

A Call to Civility and Community

An initiative taking place in Utah through the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community. The invitation from John Kesler, the center’s Executive Director, and the text of the Call to Civility.

Dear supporters of the Civility and Community Initiative,

If you were not able to make it to the Dialogue on Democracy gathering a couple of weeks ago, we were able to announce endorsement of the statement by the executive and judicial leadership of the State as well as the Utah State Bar and the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable.

We are hoping to obtain a joint resolution of support from the Utah State Legislature when the Legislature convenes in January, and in the mean time will be going after endorsement by the editorial boards of the major media in Utah.

The goal is then to pursue a handful of demonstration projects during 2009, and find ways to make a real impact after that. Those involved will meet monthly to further this effort.

Download Document Here

A CALL TO CIVILITY AND COMMUNITY

 

Ground Rules for Respectful Public Discourse and Behavior

 

 

“Frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights

 

and perpetuity of free government.” Constitution of Utah Article I Section 27

 

 

 

Being concerned about growing incivility in our civic and public settings we call upon the people of Utah to return to fundamental principles that will lead to greater civility and a new spirit of community.Among our “inherent and inalienable” Constitutional rights is the fundamental right “to communicate freely about our thoughts and opinions”, and yet we are also ”responsible for the abuse of that right” Constitution of Utah Article I Section 1.In that context we believe that there must be a renewal of respectful discourse and behavior in civic and public settings in Utah.

 

This is not an appeal for us all simply to get along. We recognize that there are profound differences among us and that spirited debate is a vital part of American democracy. Participation in American civic and public life does not require us to sacrifice our deepest convictions; rather we best protect our own rights by protecting the rights of others and adhering to high ethical standards.

 

With that in mind we propose the following ground rules of civic and public engagement that recognize the important place of the rights, responsibilities and respect inherent in our civic and constitutional compact.

 

1.Remember the Importance of Rights and the Dignity of Each Individual.Our society is founded upon the proposition that that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that freedom of conscience and expression are at the foundation of our rights.

 

2.Responsibly Exercise your Rights While Protecting the Rights of Others.Each of us should be responsible both in the exercise or our rights and in protecting the rights of others. Especially on matters of personal faith, claims of conscience, and human rights, public policy should seek solutions that are fair to all.

 

3.Respect Others.All people – especially our leaders and the media – should demonstrate a commitment to be respectful in discourse and behavior, particularly in civic and public forums. Respect should also be shown by being honest and as inclusive as possible, by mindfully listening to and attempting to understand the concerns of others, by valuing their opinions even when there is disagreement, and by addressing their concerns when possible.

 

4.Refrain from Incivility.Public discourse can be passionate while maintaining mutual respect that reaches beyond differing opinions. Intimidation, ridicule, personal attacks, mean spiritedness, reprisals against those who disagree, and other disrespectful or unethical behaviors destroy the fabric of our society and can no longer be tolerated. Those who engage in such behavior should be brought to light, held accountable and should no longer enjoy the public’s trust.

 

5. Rekindle Building Community.Our social compact “of the people” and “by the people” is“for the people.”Each one of us has a responsibility to build community. On divisive issues, areas of common ground should first be explored. Effort should be given to building broad-based agreement, giving due regard to the concerns ofminority points of view.

 

 

 

We invite all Utahns to join us in affirming these ground rules and putting them into action.

 

The time has come for us to work together.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. 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."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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