| Anne Williamson |
Invitation is tough. It involves risk, courage, vulnerability… Will they like my idea? Will he say, “Yes”? Does she value my friendship like I value hers? Will she show up? Gladly? Lovingly? Will I sound like an idiot? Will they care as much as I do? No, but will he show up anyway?
Sometimes, for fear of what we may hear, we're not even sure we want these questions answered. Past experiences, current insecurities, ignorance, all make us wary of extending that invitation, of extending ourselves. It’s far easier and much safer simply not to ask.
For all we risk in invitation, though, the alternative is actually far riskier. The alternative is never knowing what could be, what may be already. Often, it’s loneliness. For some, the alternative is the slow creep of cynicism and bitterness. It's a friendship that slowly dies, a partnership that never becomes what it could. The alternative is a nation divided, stuck in echo chambers. The alternative is us – you and me – missing out on the breadth of human experiences and perspectives. It’s us missing out on life.
So, what do we do? How do we gain the courage to repeatedly risk invitation? And, when we do risk it, how can we increase our chances it will “go well”?
These are exactly the questions we’ll be exploring in WAYfinding groups this week. We’ll be inspired by the unlikely friendship between a poet environmentalist and the CEO of a timber company. As always, we'd love for you to join the conversation anytime.