Howdoweholddaysanddecadestogether?” Patience is so much a part of how we listen to
eachotherandtothehumancondition.Mobilising the discipline to listen to things that you
don’twanttohearbecausethosearenecessary for reconnecting the tissue between human
beingsthatareseparated.Thatformehasbeen an ever-evolving cutting edge. And just
understandingthatwe’repartofreallycomplex big patterns has brought a different level and
doseofunderstandingofhumility.Peoplethat work with complexity theory talk about how
wemostlyjustnudgepartsofthesystem.Andsoimaginethatyourentirelifeisdescribed as just nudging stuff a bit [laughs]. This
certainlyalleviatessomeburdentosavethe world. I think I had a much stronger sense of “save
theworldmentality”thatcreatedmyownversions of sickness and burnout. It’s a huge burden
tocarrythesalvationoftheworldonyourshoulders and to believe that without you, things
won’thappen.Whichiswhatwefallintowhen we get into that mindset. Everything is urgent.
Theabilitytocometoanincreasedcomfort with being a small nudger is really interesting.
Andyoucanseehowwithoutthishumilityyou can get caught so quickly. If somebody throws
upanargumentthatattacksoneofyourcherished beliefs, how do you respond to that? If you
wereabletohavetheout-of-bodyexperience to watch yourself doing that, you would just
say,“Hey!WhendidyoubecometheGodof all knowledge and the redemption of the world?”
[Laughs].“Whendidyoubecomethesaviour?” Because quite often what I found is when I
havethegreatestreactivitytoothersinnegative ways, and when I defend or project, it’s often
becausetheyhaveeitherrepresentedortouched into something that I feel a deeper sense of
insecurityabout.Andthat’swhereI comeout in a harder defence of it.Sowhen I’m more insecure, I’m actually projecting
outinto the world that I’m firm and passionate. And
soit’s to have the wherewithal to step back and to look
atmyselfandtolookatwhoI’ma partofand to look at the “other” in ways that are more
humanising,andrehumanisethatsituation. Those are cutting edges ’cause they’re not easy.Yeah![Laughs].Yeah exactly.
Or[Laughs].Inotherwords,thisabilitytopinpoint particular nudges is really paradoxical.
’CauseI don’tthinkI’velostanyofmysense of urgency. But I have a much deeper respect for
themindfulnessofwhatservesthepurpose that we’re trying to achieve, as opposed to the
reactivenessofjustdoingsomething.Ye s!
Absolutely.I’vedefinitelyobservedthatinmyselfand
others.Acertainpoliticalleadercomestomind.Andtheinterestingthingistheparadoxthere.Inthathearing you talk about the patience and
thehumilityjuxtaposedagainsttheever-narrowingwindowof opportunity we have to address
thingslikeclimatechangeandtoheadofftheriseoffascism. I mean it was only around 15
yearsbetweenfascismfirstarisingasanideologyandthe start of World War II. So there’s
urgencythere.Andsowe’refacedwiththisparadoxor riddle. We need to hurry slowly.Yourlife’sworkperhaps?
astheysayin emergency rooms to doctors,
“It’surgent,take yourtime.”
62
JOHN PAUL LEDERACH
DUMBO FEATHER