I
am
not
interested
in
being
hopeful
 |
| Margaret Wheatley |
or
optimistic
or
working
diligently
to
reverse
the
patterned
path
of
history
we
tread
so
reliably
toward
collapse
I
am
interested
in
being
able
to
stay
in
the
midst
of
this
terrible
travesty
that
degrades
the
human
spirit
or
denies
we
have
one
caught
on
the
balance
beam
of
meaningful
work
and
terrifying
times
I
want
to
walk
steady
in
the
world
learning
what
balance
feels
like....
Margaret
Wheatley
“How
Does
Raven
Know?”
I
have
been
on
a
virtual
walkabout
for
a
while
now,
searching
for
“a
community
of
people
intent
on
doing
good
work,
trying
to
keep
their
hearts
open,
wanting
to
make
a
meaningful
contribution,
aspiring
to
stay
and
be
of
service
even
as
situations
become
increasingly
more
difficult
and
disheartening.”*
I
have
found
that
there
are
many
such
people
out
there;
I
want
to
start
introducing
them
and
sharing
their
stories
in
these
pages.
Who
are
these
people
searching
for
ways
to
balance
being
“fully
engaged
with
the
world
with
an
open,
breaking
heart?”*
Who
are
these
living
examples
of
Edgewalkers:
hospice
workers
to
what
is
dying
and
midwives
to
what
is
wanting
to
be
born?
Margaret
Wheatley
has
made
a
career
in
pursuing
the
question
“Who
do
we
choose
to
be
in
service
to
this
time?”
More
than
a
career,
I
would
say,
but
a
spiritual
journey,
a
quest.
One
that
she
has
clearly
put
her
heart
and
soul
into
for
many
years.
She
has
written
and
spoken
extensively
on
how
we
degrade
the
human
spirit
when
we
devolve
into
fear
and
violence
and
self-interest,
on how
we
have
forgotten
who
we
are
and
our
“great
human
capacities
of
generosity,
caring
and
creativity.”*
She
asks
over
and
over:
how
do
we
persevere
in
bringing
forth
the
very
best
of
our
human
capabilities
-
despite
the
formidable
tides
pushing
against
us?
How
do
we
not
succumb
to
exhaustion
and
despair?
She
defines
“warrior,”
in
this
context,
as
“simply
a
decent
human
being
who
aspires
to
be
of
service
in
an
indecent,
inhumane
time.
We
want
to
be
of
service
without
adding
to
the
confusion,
aggression
and
fear
now
so
prevalent
(in
our
world.)
In
Tibetan,
the
word
for
Warrior,
Pawo,
means
one
who
is
brave,
brave
enough
to
never
resort
to
aggression
or
fear
to
accomplish
their
purposes.”*
This,
she
says,
is
what
she
wants
to
spend
the
rest
of
her
life
pursuing.
And
she
wants
company.
So
she
created
the
year-long
“Training
as
Warriors
for
the
Human
Spirit.”
“This
Training is designed to form our identity as Warriors for the Human
Spirit, provide us with the skills required of this role, and create
a strong and supportive community of companions whom we can rely on
far into the future. This new identity either will strengthen us to
do our present work or support our discernment to find new work.
Wherever we choose to use our Warrior skills, we will remain actively
engaged in the world, supported by new capacities and a strong
community, in dedicated service to the human spirit.”* Take a
moment to learn more here.
The
first
cohort
is
just
beginning,
assuming
she
got
a
critical
mass
to
make
it
a
go.
It's
a
huge
commitment
in
time
and
money
for
many,
but
I
have
a
friend
who
signed
up
so
I
can
get
the
inside
scoop
as
it
progresses.
Bottom
line,
this
is
an
incredibly
brave
and
beautiful
effort
on
behalf
of
all
beings
and
the
Earth,
and
an
example
of
someone
walking
their
talk
or,
as
Rilke
said,
living
the
questions.
I
encourage
all
of
us
to
take
being
a
warrior
for
the
human
spirit
to
heart
and
ask
ourselves
how
we
can
embody
this
in
our
own
lives.
Margaret,
I
wish
you
the
very
best.
“...and
the
point
is
to
live
everything.
Live
the
questions
now.
Perhaps
then,
someday
far
in
the
future,
you
will
gradually,
without
even
noticing
it,
live
your
way
into
the
answer.”
Rainer
Maria
Rilke
“Letters
To
A
Young
Poet”
*
From Margaret's web site
