There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the Sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Posted February 17 2009
Dear Friends
In my travels I have just had the luxury of reflecting with some old school friends. People with whom there can be no façade, only truth telling. Such are precious. Having shared the same mold; we seek to discover whether we have grown into the possibility space that God intended us to occupy?
Peter Block, one of my favorite authors publishes a book this week entitled: Community: The Structure of Belonging. Given our debate on the priority of ‘belonging’ in Christian becoming, it is a ‘must read’. Here are some initial gems:
“Community is built by focusing on people’s gifts rather than their deficiencies…. Go to an association or group of neighbors and tell them what you can do and they become quite interested.”
“Systems are capable of service but not care….voluntary associations bring generosity back into a neighborhood.”
“Possibility is distinguished from vision, goals, purpose and destiny. Possibility is a declaration of what we create every time we show up. It is a condition we want to occur in the world”.
“Social Capital can be divided into “bonding” and “bridging”. Bonding networks are composed of people of like mind, usually inward looking. Other networks embrace people of different kinds, they tend to be outward looking. A society that has only bonding social capital becomes segregated into hostile groups!”
“The real task of leadership is to confront people with their freedom.”
“The context that restores community is one of possibility, generosity and gifts rather than one of problem solving, fear and retribution.”
“The core question that underlines each conversation is “What can we create together”.”
“Systems are capable of service but not care….voluntary associations bring generosity back into a neighborhood.”
“Possibility is distinguished from vision, goals, purpose and destiny. Possibility is a declaration of what we create every time we show up. It is a condition we want to occur in the world”.
“Social Capital can be divided into “bonding” and “bridging”. Bonding networks are composed of people of like mind, usually inward looking. Other networks embrace people of different kinds, they tend to be outward looking. A society that has only bonding social capital becomes segregated into hostile groups!”
“The real task of leadership is to confront people with their freedom.”
“The context that restores community is one of possibility, generosity and gifts rather than one of problem solving, fear and retribution.”
“The core question that underlines each conversation is “What can we create together”.”
It soon becomes clear that belonging is not about being ‘in or out’, it is about becoming co-constructors in the possibility space that we usually refer to as ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’.
Please be assured of our appreciation of you I trust that you will find the opportunity to ask “What can we create together”.
May God continue to bless the care you share.
Best regards,
“In the world to come, I shall not be asked, "Why were you not Moses?" I shall be asked, "Why were you not Zusya?" (Rabbi Zusya)