It is great to work with people who have had tough lives
and have learned so much/I
have learned so much.
There is hurt there.
There is experience there.
The face shows it as the words struggle out in the context of a group.
This is what I do now.
It is pulling people together and building a climate of trust and........
letting the group open up on an issue which they are stretched with.
Not comfortable, but something which stretches their mind
and the very depth of their soul.
When you have been hurt it is difficult to trust again.
More-so to love again.
My facilitation is to stretch to love.
The theory is that if we separate from people,
not liking one or another or slagging off others,
that destroys the 'community’
(the principle methodology of growth and development)
and also hinders the growth of the person themselves.
To write someone off is to damage me too.
It is old fashioned 'love your enemies' because….
anyone can love their friends.
It is wonderful to hear affirmation flying over the group.
One corner to another::
"I used to think you were an idiot,
a loud mouth idiot with no care and sensibility
to yourself or anyone else.
Now I have got to know you, you are a really good guy. “
Love it, love it, love it.
That very issue of getting to level 5 communication
makes my heart sing and
I believe God rejoices in heaven
because such is the kingdom of heaven’.
There are people in the group who really add some great stuff
and sometimes sit back and think ……….
something of God is being made here.
"Shalom' ........
right relationships
right community
right awareness
right sensitivity
right openness
right direction
toward the kingdom coming
in rich and broken lives.
What I really admire is the staff
who enter into the group life and
really share their own vulnerability,
brokenness, hurts, faltering ……
it is so beautiful that the staff do not have to pretend
to be 'beautiful perfection’
but like us all in the group ……
'beautiful imperfection'.
Several of the people I work with
will be going to events and
they will not automatically fit in.
They will feel different.
They will feel that everyone seems to know
how to enjoy these things and they don't.
The will be stepping
right outside their
comfort zones.
Like us we feel it in strange contexts.
BUT when you are feeling
NOT OK
it is difficult
scary even
to relate to a stranger
make human contact so
SO
If you see them.
Talk
say hello
acknowledge
smile
love with your eyes
love with your smile
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