December 21, 2006
Gathering scheduled for March
The reaction Pam and I have received to What Kind of World Do You Want? has led us to notch up our already high aspirations for it. We’ve started to ask ourselves:
Can a book change the world?
We’ve invited a group of those who’ve indicated strong support for the book’s ideals to a special gathering — a chance to figure out together how each of us can use the book to advance our hopes and dreams for self and society.
In short, how to advance the kind of we want, using the book as a tool.
We’ll use an open space approach, to make it easy for people to self-organize. Participants will set the agenda, convening conversations on the topics of their choice — whatever they find most interesting, care about, and may want to do something about. They’ll develop and put into action the ideas that matter most to them — as individuals committed to advancing humanity. (You might want to turn to page 144 of the book, to be reminded of our commitment to honoring the passions of individuals as the foundation of inspired action.)
If you received an invitation, I encourage you to register right away, as space is limited. By the way, those who attend will be our guests at Ferncliff Conference Center and Camp in Little Rock, Arkansas. You may remember reading about Ferncliff in the book.
3 Comments on Gathering scheduled for March »
January 2, 2007
Tom Evers @ 9:21 pm:
I think this is a rare chance to come together with other people who believe change is possible. I don’t see it as a singular weekend, but the kind of event that creates the stronger web of change agents in the world. It seems like a chance to create some lifelong connections. With that said, I can’t say that I understand completely my intentions.
I have doubts (or fears) about integrating the concepts entirely into my life, so coming together in conversation I hope to better understand my own relationship to the ideas you’re writing about.
I keep thinking of Nelson Mandela’s quote:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
It is in that light that I am excited to be a part of your gathering.
January 25, 2007
Jane Scheidecker @ 2:32 pm:
I am eager to be back in the magically positive environment that Jim Lord and Pam McAllister create– eager to learn/remember/reinforce ways that I can replicate that “what is already working” aura that will best move our organizations and my personal relationship forward — eager to discuss and live into the kind of world that we can envision together and help to create in our own environments.
Jim and Pam, thank you for creating the vessel that will hold our infinite gifts.
February 1, 2007
Mubashir Ahmed @ 1:42 pm:
I am very excited about the BOOK and this gathering. I believe that I can a make a difference by learning and bringing back this novel perspective brought about by Jim Lord through ‘WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU WANT?’. Coming from a country like Pakistan, full of fascinating dreams to transform Pakistan into ‘the kind of world I want it to be…’
I am sure that by participating in this event, I will bring back the lessons to change the age-old culture of deprivation and marginalization and a ray of new hope for my people and my country. This will be the beginning of a new tomorrow full of hope, confidence and optimism.