[Dialogue] Christmas Greeting - witness

[Lawrence Philbrook]

Dear George and Elise

it was great to see you in San Antonio both of you represent to me a 
living metaphor of elegant and respectful presence.

With respect, Larry

PS George if you want to continue our design conversation let me know 
the time or the questions. LEP


On 12/22/2010 2:46 AM, George Packard wrote:
> *
>
> Colleagues
>
> In gratitude for many experiences shared and anticipated, we share 
> this holiday greeting,
>
> George and Elise Packard
>
> /K. Elise Packard, Ph.D., /Learning Consultant,Bridging Futures LLC, 
> www.bridgingfuturesllc.com <http://www.bridgingfuturesllc.com/>
>
> **Being Led into The Night*
>
> S
>
> heep were at the birth of Jesus. Many nativity sets remember to 
> include at least one sheep or two. They are minor characters; but 
> maybe major characters after all.
>
> One Christmas carol begins with the line, "Said the night wind to the 
> little lamb, "'Do you hear what I hear?' Ringing in the night little 
> lamb, "' Do you hear what I hear?'" The lamb never gets a chance to 
> answer, but if she could, the response would surely have been "Yes!" 
> because her action was to ask the shepherd boy, "Do you see what I see?"
>
> Sheep have wide angled lenses in the eyes that are placed on the side 
> of their heads. They can see what is surrounding them, and they always 
> keep at least 5 other sheep in their gaze.It is their way of caring 
> for themselves, and caring for their colleagues in the flock.Sheep 
> don't show up being alone.They don't try to convince themselves that 
> they can make it alone; because they can't. In fact, often sheep are 
> thought of as helpless and at the mercy of others---bleating and 
> bah-ing in distress.
>
> But those eyes are powerful and they help a sheep to spot those who 
> are after them. Each sheep bahs andbleats to quickly pass the word to 
> others who might be in the sights of predators. One sheep---two sheep. 
> She---we.We---he--connected in care for each other.
>
> Sheep are not out to get anybody.They don't need that.The earth 
> provides grass and water.It is enough.They spend their days eating and 
> ruminating....that might also involve thinking, reflecting.But they 
> are only able to ruminate if they are not under stress.
>
> Sheep were there that night because the shepherds got the word to move 
> to Bethlehem.It probably was not a quick nor easy journey; but the 
> sheep went along because the shepherd prodded them to do so.It 
> probably made no sense to them to move from a comfortable pasture into 
> the town; but they followed the cues of the shepherd in trust.
>
> In the same book where we find the Christmas story, it says, "The Lord 
> is my shepherd; I shall not want."In that same book it says, that the 
> baby being born would be the "Lamb of God." In the oldest part of that 
> book it says that a ram sheep got caught in a bush and became 
> thesubstitute sacrifice that saved a little boy named Isaac.
>
> But, that Christmas Eve---these were just sheep-- following, 
> following, a shepherd in the black of night.Moving forward, not 
> balking, caring for others---moving forward, not knowing why they 
> needed to move nor where they were going....moving, moving, and 
> Showing Up.....being present to the night and to the birth of 
> something new.
>
> Lamb---He; Sheep---we; Sheep-me.Being led, and deciding to move into 
> the night. Deciding to show up, and perhaps to be surprised.Elise 
> Packard, December 2010
>
> We wish you the Best of the Holiday Season, Elise and George
>
>
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