Table talk

I think it's always good to assess where we're at with stuff we're doing and I also think that table talk is obviously really working for some people. My feeling is that we just need to make sure that as a community we are doing all kinds of things so that everyone is able to participate fully in the type of setting they feel most comfortable in. There will always be those who contribute more and those who like to sit back and listen, we just need to make sure that everyone feels they are listened to when and if they have things they wish to contribute. Maybe a Thursday night session to brainstorm other settings would be really helpful?

[..listenin'n'learnin different sprawls of effects and impacts and landscapes and landscopes and journals and journeys ...]

Table Talk means?....that: someones gonna speak who's that ? an' someone's gonna listen who's that ? shouldn't it be the other way round? Usually I find myself far more interested in who hasn't said anything or very little.. not in what the cognitive value but what the being value... I fill in the gaps shouldn't ? should I .. am I afraid of the silence ? do we measure others by our own fear of pauses hesitancy?

it seems that Table Talk happens in Birmingham.. is that right?... if so is there the possibility of some form of basic ... place to put a sleeping bag... (asking not as a demand but polite enquiry .. a friendly church porch would do ..?) I'm assuming that I'm not the only interested party that would have to travel quite far to participate (though probably not on a regular basis)

is it possible to do meet up on a topic led basis and chat on line? just an option.. I prefer the live setting personally...

I take Sarah's comments as valid about folks needing to get or feel comfortable... as well as Joe's... there will always be those who wade right in to talk regardless of setting and company and those who will hesitate... in a sense, that something is happening is the main thing... the interrupters and those who don't turn up are as valid to a discussion of inclusivity as the management thereof... but whilst you can pray and do your best as intentions in the end .... the horse doesn't have to drink.... even if we are all willing it to.... I am reminded of the notion of the dove in the crevice in the Songs of Solomon... for all the remonstrating and ... plans for it from outrside ..it's not going to come out unless it has to, is forced to or is listened to? listening is as important a part of participation as oratory... and in the silence..... we learn to hear...

it is not true that those absent or those silent aren't participating...

if they/we? feel alienated then are we/they? listening to them/us? the stories brought... to be heard spoke that GOD wants us to hear?there are so mnay ways to learn?... some through speaking some through listening for the speakers let them not be confined to their methods (they are not the only ones and they are not the only methods of learning for them too,) there; for the listeners they too....speaking in a universal method?...plurality?

when we feel we are the only ones to share then it is time for us to listen humility eat humble pie sometimes it is for us to share to speak but not alone cos we are used to this arena this role

something on my mind from Workshop and from church is the notion... that doing something that is designed for all inclusivity eg something that is an all comers response thing eg creative... that gives space to sharing from all... eg the doodler on the table cloth a sharing of expression allcomers allabilities WELCOME!

ACTUALLY... this is more about listening learning to relate to folks we don't always do to or bother to... inclusivity is : cos we want to hear all... cos we learn to listen to hear all... I have no illusions about how hard this task is it involves as much about listening to our own untold unheard stories.... listening to ... our enemies and those we don't relate to or want to relate to as well as our friends.. (our friends? aren't they the ones who listen to us?..)

some of us expect to be listened to regardless some never to be listened to regardless it's part of a socialisation thing that doesn't have to be gender distributed there are many men who wouldn't dare speak as well as many women who just won't shut up... but! if a man joins a women's table does he expect them to fit in with him ? if a woman joins a men's table does she expect to fit in with them? stereotyping? do we want to carry on without interruption or do we secretly and desperately welcome the interruption and wonder why they haven't said anything?

as someone who seems to be in the middle of things in the noise wherever I go

The topic

summarising the scope and thread online can carry on ideas and discussion of sorts..

I believe in all inclusivity (I don't pretend I'm much good at it ... all of or even some of the time.. but I do value it...) we have so much to learn above all it's a process of learning... each event is separate distinctive in it's preparation? it's happening? who is it for? what is it for?.... is there Divine Inspirement somewhere in the being of the event is it a discussion? is it community is it church? is it friends etcetcetc any event is organised is all those things and more

learning about our expectations and ourselves is as much part of that journey

reflection is good .. in real life the journeys and conversations and learning go on and on elsewhere regardless ...

GOD BLESS!

Peace and Love,