Breathing Together
Last week I attended the Center for Action and Contemplation’s (CAC) final Conspire Conference and began taking notes – lots and lots of notes. After highlighting what was most meaningful for me, I realized everything I highlighted connected to this recent Instagram post in support of National Recovery Month:
That line – which I first wrote several years ago – feels even more appropriate today given all we’ve experienced over the last 18 months. Whatever you find yourself healing from today, I hope one of these messages from the conference is helpful for your healing journey. I know they are for me.
“Do the work your soul must have.”
Dr. Katie G. Canon
“I’m not completely healed. What would be the fun in that?”
Dr. Barbara Holmes
“Start with a posture of trust.”
Michael Poffenberger
“What’s in your ‘hard to love yourself’ bucket?”
Jacqui Lewis
“Set aside time each day for a rendezvous with God.”
Jim Finley
“We have all been chosen for love.”
Drew Jackson, from his poem “The Anointing”
The following quotes are from Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who is also the founder of the CAC and author of more than twenty books, including a book I regularly recommend to friends and clients, Falling Upward. Those of you who have been on this journey with me know that I am a huge fanboy. (Several years ago I traveled to Albuquerque to stalk – I mean meet – Richard and get his autograph.) To the dozens of Richard-isms I’ve curated, I added four more from the conference:
“The path of descent is the path of transformation.”
“The very nature of God is to work for a win-win.”
“We must learn to live with paradox, ambiguity, and imperfection.”
“The only thing that separates me from God is the thought.”
I’ll close with a bit of etymology around the word conspire because we tend to think of that word in the negative. Conspire derives from the Latin verb conspīrāre, which is a combination of con-, meaning “together,” and spīrāre, “to breathe.”
Wherever you are in wrapping up 2021 and planning 2022, my wish is that you are “breathing together” with those who nourish you.
PS: Speaking of 2022 planning, if you’re planning an offsite be sure to check out the new Workshops page on my website for information on Breakthrough Offsites. I love working with leadership teams to design and deliver tailored offsite programs that spark creativity, sharpen focus, and leave everyone aligned (and excited) for what’s next. If you’re looking to inject that into your next offsite, drop me a note and we’ll set up a time to jam.