Posts Tagged ‘sidelines’
Dreamdoor Series: Part 2 – Take a Stand
“…Facilitation is everyone’s responsibility. “Leader” types without facilitator-ship are old fashioned, thinking awareness+power are theirs. Yes, 99+1, all please take a firm stand, then all, please use awareness+
OCCUPY EVERYTHING . This helps the world change from power to awareness paradigms.”~ http://www.aamindell.net/4098/news/2011-news/2011-january-through-may/, December 2011, Community??
In the back of my mind I heard Arny Mindell say, “Take a stand.”
I love to watch the CBS Sunday Morning nature segment. Being transported to some beautiful place on earth with beautiful sounds of the elements and the flora and the fauna makes a good start to the week. Overtime, my lazy Sunday morning TV-watching habit expanded to include the whole 90-minute show and then the following program, Face the Nation. What juxtaposition: the beauty of nature and the ugliness of Washington, DC. I could hardly watch Face the Nation, but I did.
Take a stand.
Like many progressives, I get a lot of political emails. Two organizations caught my eye. The first presented political content that aligned with my world view. The second presented a collaborative, respectful political process that aligned with my stand that “everyone is right…only partially,” so let’s work collaboratively together to get our growing list of frightening problems handled.
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of our political system. That’s probably why I liked being a government bureaucrat rather than a political staffer. Contrary to popular belief, bureaucrats transform legislation into programs and projects. Politicians…not so much these days. So much nastiness. What can one middle-aged woman, living comfortably in educated, affluent Davis do that could possibly make a difference?
Take a stand.
But who am I? Someone trained to “sit in the fire” like Arny Mindell.
Take a stand.
But who am I? Someone trained to be present as a response-able Shambhala “spiritual warrior.”
Take a stand.
But who am I? Someone certified as a systems coach who can listen and call forward both the majority and marginalized voices of the system and hold a space for “deep democracy” to happen.
But it’s soooo much easier to stay hidden and safe.
Take a stand.
On one side of the Political Dreamdoor was someone upset about our political system, watching from the sidelines. On the other side of the Political Dreamdoor was someone who actively works to bring about the “what’s next” of our political system.
In April, I stepped through the door and made my first Congressional visit for the group wanting to change our political process. Despite my three decades in government, I was surprised how nervous I was, just talking to a legislator’s field representative. In May I took another step by joining my first political protest sponsored by the political group that aligns with my world view.
I took a stand…and walked from the sidelines…through the dreamdoor…into the fire…challenging myself to be aware.
Judith MacBrine dba The Mirror Group © Copyright 2012