Replying to LO27547 --
Dear LO Community,
The past ten years have been filled with much promise. Better ways of
living and working together. The atmosphere has been hopeful and
expansive. So it always takes me by surprise when a fellow sojourner
passes from this life. A co-laborer, actually. They leave behind a
lasting richness, and a touch of emptiness.
We ask how to create Learning Organizations. We wonder how to measure
their attributes. Juan's message about his father's death brings back a
flood of memories. If we were to go to the archives and read the messages
that Doc wove into our conversations, I believe we'd see what a Learning
Organization looks and feels like.
I never met Doc face-to-face, but talked with him many times by email or
phone. I always felt safe and honored in his presence. Respected. He
made me want to look inside, challenge my beliefs, and learn. Learning
Organizations are made man-by-man, woman-by-woman. Doc's civility was
notable. It didn't matter whether he was helping someone, or being
admonished. Maybe it's just my preference, but I'd like to work in an
organization made up of people of his character -- of his hot passion for
learning that was able to come across cool and calm.
Thank-you, Juan, for writing to share the news. Your reference to your
dad as a hero was a wake-up call for me. It's too easy to get tired and
back away from the effort required to open spaces for learning. I
couldn't help but think of the all the people -- men, women, children --
in our country during the month of September. People rushing into
difficult spots because they cared about something greater.
This list is special. It's made up of people who care, and who do
something about it in an honorable way. There is so much to share.
There is so much good work to be done.
Thanks,
John
--John Dicus <jdicus@ourfuture.com>
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