Listening deeply in a distracted world

by Courtney E. Martin                           

Dr. Ralph Nichols, one of the founders of the field of listening, once said, "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them."

When we read these words, we know them in our bones, and yet so much of our daily lives is structured -- not around listening -- but around doing, talking, producing, consuming. In this overwhelming world, it is easy to lose sight of the power of slowing down, gathering in community, and exploring the power of silence and the wisdom of others. When we listen we reap such deep reward, and yet we must insist on it, create spaces for it, counter the speed and tenor of the culture that surrounds us in order to make it an absolute priority. 

Sustaining a democracy

by Terry Chadsey, Executive Director                      

As the Center launches Healing Democracy Action Circles into the world, I'm eager to share this story about a remarkable man who's accomplished remarkable things.

Bill Bolling is Georgia Trend's 2012 Georgian of The Year. His story is remarkable first because he's made a life of doing important and humble work: building communities and systems that feed the hungry. His story is also remarkable because he and his work embody those habits of the heart that Parker Palmer describes as critical to sustaining a democracy. 

Thank you, Bill Bolling. In this time of political attack ads, let's lift up what works and who's doing it.  Please share your stories of lives and work that exemplify sustaining a democracy.

Leading and following in a healing democracy

by Courtney E. Martin                                 

Though we live in a product-oriented society, in our gut we know that living the process is what yields the most learning. Such has already been the case as we've been creating the Healing Democracy Action Circles initiative here at the Center. We've been paying close attention to the moments that give us pause and have mined them for what they have to teach us about the hard work of re-authenticating our very own little "p" in politics.

One such moment has come up around how these groups form. Some of the first reactions from you all have been, "Help me find a group!" On the practical side, the Center simply does not have the capacity to set up groups or help people find groups. Meetup.org is not for everyone, but it's a simple solution that we've recommended for those willing to have this adventure with new folks in their local communities. There are now two Healing Democracy Circles posted there, one in Madison, WI, and one in Raleigh, NC. I expect we'll soon see more.

The beloved community begins

by Courtney E. Martin                              

Many of us have been thinking about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. this week. People have emailed one another their favorite of his quotations, dedicated themselves to a day of service, and re-watched some of his most salient speeches. It seems fitting that at this time, in this season, that the Center has launched a new kind of, in King's words, "beloved community." 

Nearly 700 people, friends new and old, living all over the country, have signed up to be part of Healing Democracy Action Circles for the next six months. We will be gathering in our local communities--in church basements and classrooms, living rooms and cafes--to explore the five habits of the heart that Parker Palmer describes in his most recent book, Healing the Heart of Democracy.

Occupy Inspiration

by Parker J. Palmer                          

A few weeks ago, I posted an inspiring story [on Facebook] about Rod House. He's the 71-year-old Air Force veteran who took a one-man "Occupy La Veta" stand in his hometown (pop. 906), motivated in part by my new book. Here's more coverage of the story from the Sojourners blog, which is always worth reading. Near the end of this wonderful piece, the writer, Phil Haslanger, quotes me: "Palmer called House’s action the kind of 'review' of his book that meant more than any academic praise. 'He reviewed the book with his life,' Palmer said." Believe me, this is one review I'll always treasure! Rod House reminds us that we all have a piece of the action in this thing called democracy.

Note: Phil Haslanger wrote about the same incident in the (Madison, WI) Capital Times. 

Deepening our sense of purpose

Recently Polly LaBarre wrote an excellent Harvard Business Review Blog Network post about “Developing Mindful Leaders.” In it she writes,

“What if, instead of stuffing people with curricula, models, and competencies, we focused on deepening [leaders] sense of purpose, expanding their capability to navigate difficulty and complexity, and enriching their emotional resilience? What if, instead of trying to fix people, we assumed that they were already full of potential and created an environment that promoted their long-term well-being?”

These are the very “inner life” priorities that are placed front and center in the Courage & Renewal Academy for Leaders. 

If you're been to a Courage & Renewal retreat before, and you're looking for more support for leading with authenticity and in a whole-hearted manner, please take a look at this new Courage & Renewal program.

Democracy: The Musical!

by Parker J. Palmer                            

In 2010, while I was writing Healing the Heart of Democracy, the Center held two national conferences on the subject, one near Seattle, one near Boston. At both conferences, the leadership team included a gifted musician whose contributions went far beyond providing “grace notes” or “background music” to the talks and group discussions. Music can open pathways into problems and possibilities that words alone cannot.

In Seattle, my musical partner was the amazing Phillip Bimstein. In Boston, my partner was the equally amazing Carrie Newcomer. For several years, Carrie has been an “at large” ambassador for the Center, generously supporting our work in every way she can.

Following the Boston conference, Carrie and I began imagining a “music and spoken word” event, an interplay of her work and mine, rooted, as Carrie says, “in the power and depth of the human story, and the hope that what connects us is stronger than that which divides us.” The result is “Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good,” whose first two performances will occur early in 2012. (Carrie’s many fans will recognize “A Gathering of Spirits” as the title of one of her most-loved songs.)

The Risk of Incarnation

by John Fenner, Program Director, Courage & Renewal for Clergy            

In this wonderful video, Parker J. Palmer reflects upon the Christmas story and the ideal and reality of incarnation – of word becoming flesh.  He invites us to explore the risk of incarnation, of embodying our deepest values and most authentic self.

After watching, I reflected on how easily I can live in my beliefs, and yet how hard and risky it is to live out my beliefs.  As a Christian, I am called to “love my neighbor as myself."  Well, that’s always been easy for me to believe, but to embody it?  That’s a lot harder .…especially when my neighbor voted for the other guy, or watches the other news channel, or….and on and on it goes.  What am I willing to risk to embody the belief of loving my neighbor?  My righteousness?  My sense of standing on moral high ground?

I don’t believe this call to live out our highest values of humanity and faith is solely Christian, but one that runs through all religious and wisdom traditions.  A Jewish acquaintance writes about his daily practice of chanting the Thirteen Attributes of Lovingkindness – a practice that reminds him of God’s infinite compassion and the obligation to embody these words in his own life. He takes seriously the risk and work of incarnation.  And Lao Tzu, the ancient philosopher, wrote “Don’t analyze the Tao.  Strive instead to live it, undividedly, with your whole harmonious being.”

Going one step further, for me, is the risk of becoming fully human, of growing into my true self.  Am I willing to risk humiliation, marginalization, and even rejection by embodying all my gifts and acknowledging all my shadows?  I hope I am, because living a life that’s not my own, seems an even greater risk.

What about you?  What are you are wiling to risk to embody your deepest values?  to become your authentic self?  Where do you find the courage to take on the risk of incarnation?

The Risk Of Incarnation from The Work Of The People on Vimeo.

Reconnecting to our democratic instincts

Between our 24/7 news climate of too often empty debate, a presidential election coming up, and economic turmoil all around, it can feel like our best democratic instincts--to gather and talk to those in our local community, to pause and consider our values, to help one another through tough times--have been drowned out by all the noise. Well here at the Center, we're ready to reconnect with who we really are as individuals, neighbors, and a nation.   

We'd like to invite you to part of a first-of-its-kind initiative that we are undertaking, with the help of our friend and collaborator Courtney E. Martin, called Healing Democracy Action Circles.   

A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good

Parker Palmer has two exciting “gigs” coming up, with his good friend, singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer.  Click on the headings below for more information:

January 21 & 22, 2012, at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa

Concert: Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good

Can we set free what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature?” In an era of “the politics of rage,” can we seek the common good across all that might divide us, coming together as friends, neighbors, citizens, and members of a larger community upon which we all depend? Join Carrie and Parker in an evening of song and spoken word as they take us on a three-stage journey of hope: (1) Celebrating “We the People.” (2) Exploring the power of “The Broken-Open Heart.” (3) Inviting us to reflect on “How Then Shall We Live?”

Retreat: Democracy from the Inside Out: A Circle of Trust Retreat

In this day-long experience with Parker and Carrie, 40 people will examine their own citizen “habits of the heart,” guided by themes from Parker’s book, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and by ground rules that create a safe space for exploring challenging topics. Participants will spend time in large-group exploration of meaningful questions, in silent and solitary reflection and journaling, and in small-group dialogues rooted in personal story-telling. Toward the end of the retreat, participants will be invited to imagine how they might take the insights of the day back to the familiar settings of their own lives: families, neighborhoods, schools, religious communities, the workplace, and the larger reaches of public life.

February 10 & 11, 2012, at Washington University in St. Louis, MO

Book reading: 4:30 p.m. Parker will be reading from Healing the Heart of Democracy at Graham Chapel.

Concert: 8:00-9:30 p.m. Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good

Can we set free what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature?” In an era of “the politics of rage,” can we seek the common good across all that might divide us, coming together as friends, neighbors, citizens, and members of a larger community upon which we all depend? Join Carrie and Parker in an evening of song and spoken word as they take us on a three-stage journey of hope: (1) Celebrating “We the People.” (2) Exploring the power of “The Broken-Open Heart.” (3) Inviting us to reflect on “How Then Shall We Live?”

Retreat: Democracy from the Inside Out: A Circle of Trust Retreat

In this day-long experience with Parker and Carrie, 40 people will examine their own citizen “habits of the heart,” guided by themes from Parker’s book, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and by ground rules that create a safe space for exploring challenging topics. Participants will spend time in large-group exploration of meaningful questions, in silent and solitary reflection and journaling, and in small-group dialogues rooted in personal story-telling. Toward the end of the retreat, participants will be invited to imagine how they might take the insights of the day back to the familiar settings of their own lives: families, neighborhoods, schools, religious communities, the workplace, and the larger reaches of public life.

Note: Registration for the retreat will be limited with priority given to Washington University students, faculty, and staff.  We will post a link to registration when available.

The Danforth Center on Religion & Politics is pleased to co-sponsor the above events with the Office of Residential Life, the Assembly Series, and The Gephardt Institute for Public Service.

  

Utne Reader's Visionaries Who are Changing Your World

In its current issue, the Utne Reader names the Center's founder and senior partner, Parker J. Palmer, as one of 25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World in 2011.  About Parker's lifetime of work, Editor David Schimke writes, "Taken in pieces or as a whole, the work rejuvenates and empowers because it encourages both solitary introspection and collective action." That's a great way to capture the pairing of "Courage" and "Renewal."  

Congratulations to Parker for this well deserved honor. We at the Center are indeed fortunate for the many years of partnership to put wheels on Parker's ideas through programs and resources that change the world from the inside out. 

How has Parker Palmer changed your world?

Where do you find community?

by Courage & Renewal Facilitator Karen Erlichman, LCSW       

Recently I have had numerous conversations with friends, colleagues and family members who are earnestly “looking for community.”  When I have inquired more specifically about this —their desire, their search-- people often find it challenging to describe exactly what they are seeking. Some of the responses have been:

“I want a place where all of who I am is truly welcomed.”

“I want my partner to feel at home there too.”

“I don’t want to be guilt-tripped about how I’m not doing enough.”

“I don’t want to have to choose allegiances in order to belong.”

My experience and training as a therapist reminds me that we bring all of our disillusionment, wounding and idealism to the search for community: times when we felt alienated, judged, or disappointed; memories or fantasies of a community in which we just fit effortlessly.