You are the dark cloud our group gathers under

March 24, 2020 11:15 AM

None of us live in a vacuum.

The decisions each person makes has consequences for the rest of us.

As the law of motion states, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Especially in a communal setting. Because these things are generative spaces. Holy containers whose integrity we have committed to preserving.

During my five years on the board of a local trade association, we had one volunteer who was a huge thorn in the organization’s side. During every meeting, his persistent, pedantic questions about parliamentary procedure completely derailed the group. With every new micromanaging detail suggested, he would send forth a tiny ripple of frustration that grew more powerful with each person it touches.

To the point that our president finally took him aside and said, look, you are bringing something into our space that is now affecting the whole group, and it’s not okay. Starting today, we are putting firm but loving limits on your expenditure of the group’s energy. Otherwise you will be voted off the island.

Not surprisingly, that volunteer ended up resigning a few months later.

Good riddance. He had become the dark cloud our group gathered under, and everyone felt relieved when he finally left.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Proving, that life is not solo adventure, it is a communal undertaking. And whatever we bring into the generative space, it will multiply exponentially.

Let us take responsibility for the quality of the energy we bring to the world.

Let us stay committed to preserving the container.

LET ME ASK YA THIS…