What question lies at the heart of your work?
I recently came across this fascinating introduction to a new book called Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future, by (among others) Peter M. Senge and C. Otto Scharmer. The book presents a radical new model for leadership based on a new understanding of how organizations function in relationship to individuals’ own "deep work". Read the paper as it is very good.
One of the things that the authors did was to interview leading scientists, business people and social entrepreneurs, asking them the question: "What question lies at the heart of your work?". When I read this, something immediately clicked and my answer came: "Then let us see what love can do" (William Penn). What I love about this quote is that William Penn is not saying "love will solve all your problems". He is saying, just try it and see what happens – decide for yourself. You may have tried X, you may have tried Y, and it hasn’t worked – why not try love? When I said this to myself, I immediately started to cry. That is "the question at the heart of my work", with Trellis, with Waking in Down in Mutuality, with Shalom Mountain and everything else that I do, even my marriage.
One of the basic premises of the book is that reality (matter, the phenomenological world) is shaped by fields of intention, in the same way that a tiny seed can grow into a huge tree. We tend to say that a tree comes from a seed, but think about this for a moment. A seed clearly does not have the resources to create a tree. However, it does contain an intention (blueprint, pattern, organizing principle) to become a tree. From that intention, it pulls everything it needs from the environment (ie carbon dioxide, sunshine etc) to manifest its intention. How cool is that? In the same way, the smallest force in the field of intention (as in, for example, a small loving act towards oneself or another) can generate dramatic results.
There are some very dramatic things happening right now in my life and in the lives of many people that I am connected with. I have initiated several developmental groups in which, I believe, deep and important work is being done. Trellis itself is, in a way, a developmental group. As I am starting to really "get" some of the concepts in the "Presence" book and in Waking Down, and as I am actively seeking the support of peers and the mentoring of teachers such as Saniel Bonder, my world is irrevocably shifting, and my effectiveness as an agent for change is multiplying. I will share more about this in a little while as right now it is still in its baby stage…
What question lies at the heart of your work?
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Quotes "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
But if I am only for myself, who am I?
If not now, when?"
-- Hillel
"We can choose to make the success of all
humanity our personal business. We can choose to be audacious enough to take responsibility for the entire human family. We can choose to make our
love for the World what our lives are really about. Each of us now has the opportunity, the privilege to make a difference in creating a World that works for all of us. It will require courage, audacity and heart. It is much more radical
than a revolution, it is the beginning of a transformation in the quality of life on our planet. You have the power to fire a shot heard around the World.
If not you, who? If not here, where? If not
now, when?"
-- Werner Erhard, 1979
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet."
-- Frederich Buechner
"Describe the steps you would take,
the gifts you would buy,
the generosity you would bestow,
the kindness you would offer,
the enthusiasm you would have,
the attention you would give,
and anything else that appeals to you,
if you were able to give yourself the things you want someone else to give to you.
NONE OF US WANTS TO GROW UP"
-- Cheri Huber
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one...being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, being a force of nature, instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as i live it, it is a privilege to do whatever i can. i rejoice in life for its own sake…
Life is no brief candle to me, but sort of a bright torch that i got hold of for a moment and i want to make it burn as brightly as possible, before handing it on to future generations"
-- George Bernard Shaw “Bright Torch”
"Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy."
-- Joseph Campbell
"If your mind is on the right path, it doesn’t matter how fast you go. If you’re on the right path, you’ll get there. Commitment keeps you on the path."
-- Steve Chandler
Throw away
Your begging bowls at God’s door For I have heard the Beloved
Prefers sweet threatening shouts, Something on the order of: Hey, Beloved,
My heart is a raging volcano
of love for you! You better start kissing me –
Or else!" -- Hafiz
"You don't need to get what you want if you can express what you want"
-- Strephon Kaplan-Williams
"The heart has its reasons that Reason knows not of." -- Blaise Pascal |
I absolutley love this piece!!!! I am in some of the same fields with you. Steve Chandler, Tantra Maat and Metapoints, and Waking Down in Mutality with the Bonders, and Presencing! I have been thinking in fields for some time…
“Let us see what Love does” is a field, a movement. It is generative, self creating, moving, endless…
Dear Marc,
I appreciated your presence at our Integral Philly meeting last night.
My affirmation/intention for my work: By being in full presence, I, Carol, create space for myself and others to come home to SELF, to hear the calling and feel the belonging.
So, maybe the question at the heart my work is: How do we create and sustain full presence?
Thanks for asking.
C