Living Lent - Day 3 and 4

Posted by Kelly Lewis Share Your Voice

 Yesterday, my friend and colleague Kathleen, was describing some work she has been doing with Parker Palmer's new book, "Healing the Heart of Democracy".   Kathleen said, "holding tension in life giving ways appears to be the key to having respectful conversation and healing the heart of democracy."

From that point on I found myself wondering, "How do I hold tension without being tense?".  Tension can be such a creative and destructive thing.  When I try to fix, figure, or force the tension, it feels painful in my body.  My neck becomes stiff and my back gets tight; I clench my jaw and hold my breath; and my eyes feels tired.  Ok - I think I have the destructive side of holding tension down to a detailed science and have been living it a lot lately.

And when I can sit with the tension of two opposing thoughts, ideas, values, realities, like they are guests in my home - one sitting on the couch, the other in a chair, without having to fix, force, or figure, I create enough space for the two opposing views to live together.  That seems creative, easy to say and hard to do within myself.

The irony in this is, I create spaces for groups of people with different values, perspectives, and experiences to come together to learn how to lead.  I masterfully hold the tension of opposing views in a creative and life giving way for them.  And at the moment,  I wonder how I can begin to do that for and within myself. 

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Kelly Lewis Hello! Here are a few things that I have found support me in creating the life I want, keeping myself in check, and leading with courage and compassion: a slow walk with my hubby and our pups, my work, honesty with myself, the smile of another, and mother nature.