What’s Your Story?

I was fortunate enough today to participate in a webinar presented by the Tamarack Institute as part of their Deepening Community Series. It was focused on a new book by Asset Based Community Development visionaries/actionaries John McKnight, Peter Block and Walter Brueggemann: An Other Kingdom.

The book proposes a paradigm that is the antithesis of our current consumer culture. The new culture focuses on how we can endeavor to be hospitable at all times in our lives. How do we bring others into our world and our conversation? How can we  allow our own story to be porous enough so that when we hear someone else's story we can take the parts that resonate with us and let them strengthen our own narrative? 

It's going to take me a couple of posts, another listen and some time to unpack all of the goodness that was in that 60 minute webinar. However, my head and my heart are holding onto this beautiful poem by Margaret Wheatley that was shared by one of the authors. 

Turning to One Another

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.

Notice what you care about. Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.

Talk to people you know.

Talk to people you don’t know.

Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear. Expect to be surprised.

Treasure curiosity more than certainty.

Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.

Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.

Know that creative solutions come from new connections.

Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people closer together.

Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.

Rely on human goodness.

Stay together.