At 05:17 PM 4/10/00 -0400, you wrote: >(I suppose we all handle these opening chores a little differently, and I >find lately I digress from my "script" more and more and treat the time as a >bit of open-space-within-structure. I say different things; I move >differently... I have this notion that the whole opening can be done solely >and completely with gestures. Thought I might try that sometime, although I >don't know why. Sure would be a switch for a guy who loves the sound of his >own voice.) *********************************** It's happened. Several years ago i was doing a training program (OS) for the Bank of Montreal. I made the point that the opening had much more to do with being than doing, and that while words were useful, they were probably not essential. Some wag took me at my word, and issued the challenge. So there we were with a circle of 50 and my mouth was sealed. Much to my surprise, it actually worked.
At the same training program we had a participant who was in a wheel chair. He was concerned about "bounding the circle" and wondering whether being in a wheel chair would be an impediment. So the group obligingly created a circle and he tried it out. By the time he got back to the starting point the room was in awed silence. Because he was in a wheel chair he engaged all participants at eye level as he made it around the circle. The impact was incredible to the point that we all agreed that in addition to Tibetan Temple Bells, useful equipment for Open Space might include a wheel chair for all facilitators. Talk about the power of vulnerability! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA Summer address: 189 Beaucaire Ave. RR Box 4248 Camden, ME 04843 Website www.tmn.com/~owen Phone 301-469-9269 Fax 301-983-9314 Maine Phone 207-763-3261
