FootprintsintheWind.com

Maybe you’ve got more years than I do to do this work. Do you know?

:- Doug.

Now. Now is the time to invite. With this quavering voice.

:- Doug.

Look not for people who agree, but for people who will open. Invite people to see. People can see, people can hear, people can meet: then we act. Act for humanity.

:- Doug.

I am not so sure that humanity exploding on earth will end in rubble, but that is a possibility, and it will take our work to keep it from happening. We do not have a long enough view, for the earth is much older and may just take our explosion in stride. We may imagine we have more power than we do, thinking we can end the planet or at least life on the planet. We might only be able to wipe out our species and a few thousand more. But if we see (not just look) and hear (not just listen), we might discern our way.

:- Doug.

Primary elections do not bring up the strongest candidate—the system rewards tactics more than long view philosophy and statesmanship. The candidates and their handlers are guessing what will work—and deliberately trying to sway with sound bites and 30 second commercials; we have a great deal of demagoguery. Thoughtfulness is lost; our own humanity the loser. We are lessened by the TV-centered campaigning: not just as a people, not just as individuals, but as a species. More and more we vote not with our minds but with wallets. And the wallets have their own supra-human agenda.

:- Doug.

Humanity an
explosion—spreading, spreading
on the earth—and then?

:- Doug.

Here is always a good place to be.

:- Doug.

G*d us
commands not;
hoping, invites!

:- Doug.

High trees wave to me
Stirring up breeze, sending it
my way; I wave: Friend!

:- Doug.

Friend, now for your Now, I accept your invitation!

:- Doug.

Footprints in the Wind^sm # 1118

Invitation is slow: our constant desire for speed can get in our way. Moving toward worth is slow, so are stories shared. Talking like we never have before is slow and most efficient: it gets us to the pulse within.

Please pass it on.

© c 2011, Learning Works, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Easy reprint permissions: 574/291-0022, or by e-mail to mailto:Doug AT FootprintsInTheWind.com. Back issues available at http://www.FootprintsintheWind.com

The city is venue for holy work.

:- Doug.

Why can you not take 3 days to get to better life, justice, community? What do you fear? What do you think conversation is doing? It is true conversation is a waste of time (you are willing to “waste” a day or half a day, why not 2 ½?) if we are talking like we usually talk. But if we are talking like we never have before, then the time is concentrated and we are more productive than we could be in 6 months. We can guarantee you the opportunity and the invitation to talk like you never have before.

:- Doug.

If Conversation and Love are the same thing, and if Justice and Love are the same thing, then Justice is Conversation, Conversation Justice.

:- Doug.

Conversation is slow (3 days!? We can’t take that much time!), is merciful and accepting and gathering of all voices, and is nonviolent because it gets beyond calcification and screaming.

:- Doug.

Justice is more difficult than love, for we think loving is loving our friends and those who love us.

:- Doug.

How are we ever going to do justice if we don’t talk with one another?

:- Doug.

What do you want to happen in our city? Why don’t you see to it?

:- Doug.

Conversation does not sit still: its feet jangle to get to work.

:- Doug.

Put your word in motion: invite.

:- Doug.

Invite people together. Into conversations to make better.

:- Doug.

The work is in the city, this city, and is inviting conversations to see what we can make better.

:- Doug.

Be inviting: always inviting the conversations.

:- Doug.