In the session with Mitch Saunders and Glenna Girard, we reflected on the question, "What is going on in the world, that 9/11 perhaps demarcated in some way?" It was an effort to consider the entire system as a whole, rather than separating into "us" and "them" along certain lines. But we were able to hold that perspective longer when we centered ourselves in a sense of purpose, rather than reactiveness or ego.

On the final day, Peter Senge shared a perspective that might qualify as what Daniel Kim calls, "one of many right answers". He said that as we expand our sense of other people as legitimate beings to include a broader and broader range of human society, the world seems to become more complex. This can be overwhelming, as we begin to respect and understand all these diverse interests and perspectives. In the face of that complexity, it is tempting to return to simplistic solutions and ideas -- but this is ultimately short-sighted.

To quote Daniel Kim again, "Solutions that treat it like a simple world cause even more problems."

Their first project together was to lead the West Coast SOL meeting in a day of storytelling, reflection, and dialogue. Several participants at the session pointed out how much energy they discovered when they went back to tell of an experience from childhood. The session was also a good example of the power of sharing stories without a set topic.

As we see so much needs to be done, so much requires a response, what allows us to touch faith in something greater than ourselves? How might we hear another person's concerns and be grateful that they are attending to that need, because all of our stewardship is needed? How do we contribute with a sense of perspective that doesn't require immediate results?

Are people who come together to reflect on these subjects really "like-minded"? We share so much in our perspective, and yet there is such difference as well.

When we see ourselves being of service to someone, how do we connect with the people we see ourselves supporting? What humility is required?

We might each find a "cause" calling for our attention. Do we dare to respond to the calling that feels most worthy and inspiring? Does it satisfy if we just do "something" to help, if it's not that one thing that resonates so deeply with us? Or is it generative just to begin participating in life, in whatever ways we find?

Many people are asking how their work can be more in the service of something larger - at the same time they are asking how to ensure their own economic security. Because a thoughtful response to these questions requires us to consider the larger context and underlying causes behind the events of September 11, we are inviting people to help tell the "story behind the story", beyond the reactive poses of militarism and "us" versus "them."

In preparation, we'd like to ask you to spend a few minutes uncovering a piece of the story that you can share with the group.  You might:
    - read and clip a magazine article
    - research and print a page from a website
    - interview someone whose story is not normally told
All we have to do is ask ourselves: What has happened here? What experiences have contributed to the various points of view? What might we learn from these events? Once we've created the mural, we can post it in a community location, or polish it and send it to a news publication, etc.

If you are interested in joining us for an evening of storytelling, drawing, personal reflection and dialogue, please click here.

What a pleasant surprise, then, to discover that Dixy Eyer, and others working to support self-organizing organizations in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, have been using the Business Storytellers(sm) website for questions and themes for dialogue! So far, the most popular topic has been Us and Them.

Another thread we uncovered together at Ghost Ranch was how shy, and perhaps even timid, we all are around sharing our deepest hopes for ourselves and the world. And yet, wouldn't daring to speak those hopes and concerns be a powerful starting place for shared purpose and action?

The visualizations she used, from Michael Ray's, Creativity in Business, were a powerful way to recognize experiences around our topic, "The Threads of the Past in the Present." Sometimes, it is only with deep, private reflection, that we recognize the pervasive influence of our history on our current experience.

Then, using an abundance of artistic supplies, we experimented with representing those stories - in two-dimensions, and for some of us, three(!) Seeing and hearing each other's descriptions of these artistic pieces created a sense of profound empathy, compassion, and awareness. In the words of one participant - "those were river stories, the kind where things are shifting, moving, changing."

Each Kit includes a complete Facilitator's Guide with sample agendas from all prior meetings, as well as other materials such as signs, posters, a talking stick, candles, etc. If you are interested in learning more about how you might receive a Kit to help start your own group, please click here.

The day was a wonderful experiment in shared reflection, as well as the generative process of creating together. Together, we created two skits: Team Drama, and A Community Carol. If you'd like to hear the "radio-plays" created from each of these, please contact us.

Our vision is that we might host these every six months or so, to add a cycle of closure and new begining to our storytelling. Perhaps we might also invite family, friends, and young people to join us.

Led by Wai Han Lock, Director of the Planning and Organization Department at Police Headquarters in Singapore, the group included representatives from several government agencies and Hewlett Packard Corporation. Because several of the guests were from the Singapore police force, we chose to focus our stories on the topic of Police in the Community. This provocative topic elicited powerful stories of heroism, moral dilemmas, the use of power, conflict, dedication to the community, and the power of building shared vision.

Overall, it proved to be a powerful learning experience, helping us all hold the creative tension between speaking the truth about what is, and daring to envision something better for the future. And now, it looks as though our guests plan to apply some of these storytelling techniques for community-building back home - we look forward to hearing about what they learn!

David Whyte said, "Learn your character, then put it in conversation with something larger." How do we communicate, knowing that our understanding is not complete? We have a point of view, but we know it's partial and we want to hear others.

He said, "The corporate world is too singular, too closed, in its language. The language is all about power, but the primary experience, at all levels, is one of powerlessness - so we need to widen the language to see that, to include that." When we approach that opaque wall in each other, how do we begin, invite, create space for conversation? So many people think they know better what someone else needs.

He spoke about the shyness of things, of approaching learning obliquely, visiting and retreating in cycles. THAT must be why I find my most creative ideas when I'm procrastinating about something more important...