| The Open Hand There are two distinct approaches to living life: Open hand living or Clenched fist living Our hands are an expression of our heart and mind, our inner self. As an artist expresses the inner self . . . As a warrior expresses the inner self . . . As a villan expresses the inner self . . . As a thief expresses the inner self . . . . . . Through the hand, So do we in our every action and re-action To people and to life “Think of the difference between being confronted with a clenched fist and being offered an open hand. The clenched fist signifies threat, rejection, arrogance, exclusion, refusal, anger and violence. The open hand means friendship, help, peace, sharing, communication and connection.” (fr. Vivian Boland) Clenched fist living contrasted with open hand living Bruce Cockburn on the “open hand” For a physical demonstration of the power of the open hand contrasted with the weakness of a clenched fist, go to the description of Aikido’s unbendable arm at: http://www.bodymindandmodem.com/CoolKi/Unbend.html For a biblical sermon an this stark choice, click here. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi (for a prettier, printable version of the chart below, click here) |
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open hand.
Above the hand is
~ a flower unfolding in all its
beauty and creativity,
~ a flame burning with
compassion and passion,
~ a dove descending, a
representation of peace and
of the Spirit.
What do you see?
The open hand is open to
both give and receive life's
incidental graces.
will I take flight?
(Bruce Cockburn,
Strange Waters lyrics)
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Capacity
Thinking What is your approach to people,
situations, and life? |
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living under the rising sun |
living
under the setting sun |
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The glass is half full |
The glass
is half empty |
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Possibility thinking |
Problem
thinking |
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Creative thinking |
Critical
thinking |
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Strengths |
Weaknesses |
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Possibilities |
Limitations |
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Contributor |
Consumer |
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Abilities |
Disabilities |
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Abundance |
Scarcity |
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You can! |
You
can’t! |
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Why not? |
Why? |
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Maybe |
Never |
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Open hand: give, let go |
Clenched
fist: grasp,
hold on |
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Open mind: always learning, inquiring |
Closed
mind: knows
everything, opinionated |
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Open heart: embraces change, differences, diversity, people |
Closed
heart: defers to
defensiveness, guardedness, control, fear |
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Focus: what to grow |
Focus: what
to fix |
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Healing comes through community |
Professionals
prescribe cures |
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What do we need to do to make this happen? |
We can’t
do that. We’ve never done that before. |
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A person is a mystery to be embraced |
A person
is a problem to be solved |
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