The Peter Block discussion group met on Friday, April 23 for what could have been a final conversation. However, as we talked together, we discovered that it made sense not only to continue meeting, but also to invite others into the conversation.
First, we identified the crossroads of possibility that that the book has engendered in each of us. This conversation led us to naming each others’ gifts. Curiously, even though we had only met three times, the gifts people identified in others were spot on. This speaks to the power of relationships that can emerge quickly in a group that is intentional about community.

Finally, we asked, what’s next? Shall we develop new groups with others? Shall we invite Peter Block to come to our area for a conversation? Someone proposed that we continue talking with each other, but also invite interested others to join us. People around the circle agreed. Using Block’s language, there are two purposes to our continuing conversation – accountability and possibility: accountability to each other for our commitment to apply concepts from this seminal, whether in education, the faith community, business, or social services; and possibility for creative ways to make the ideas live.

Reader, you are invited, too. Please join us for the next conversation on Friday, May 21 at 7:30 a.m. at the Holland GVSU campus. I know it’s early, but Melissa Peraino, our host, will provide coffee. We hope to see you there.

Ruth Stegeman