Welcome To The Golden Thread
by Dave Groover © 2012
by Dave Groover © 2012
What the difference is between a Persian Flaw, and a Conundrum? A Persian Flaw refers to the old Persian Rug artisans discipline of knotting an intentional mistake into an other wise perfect Persian Carpet. The idea was that only God is perfect and when the artisans made beautifully knotted carpets it seemed only right (to them and to their trade) that they had to make an intentional imperfection in the design.
I have spent some years working with corporate team building programs. I am well aware of how challenging it can be to achieve perfection as a team.
We Human beings are living conundrums, we are riddles, we are puzzles to be solved that are beyond solving. And yet we have the lessons we learned in kindergarten, play nice, try and build something, and even if you don't want to be friends with someone else, at least be nice (polite).
I have spent some years working with corporate team building programs. I am well aware of how challenging it can be to achieve perfection as a team.
We Human beings are living conundrums, we are riddles, we are puzzles to be solved that are beyond solving. And yet we have the lessons we learned in kindergarten, play nice, try and build something, and even if you don't want to be friends with someone else, at least be nice (polite).
OK, which one of you is the Persian Flaw in this team?
Teams can be then, at best, groups of different people who learn how to work together toward a common goal. Husbands and wives are a team, so are large institutions and people in small office settings. Everyone at Penn State felt the success of their football team, and now everyone at Penn State who is part of the alumni team, feels the shame of the scandal brought on by good people not speaking out against evil deeds of other people.
How can we, striving for perfection in our teams, our companies, our families, and in our places of worship accept and learn from our imperfections, the differences we share in our very midst? Whether we intentionally "make a flaw" ("Yes, I just made that Persian flaw for the sake of our team") or we experience the consequences from unintended flaws such as the collective grief felt by all at Penn State in 2012, we have to learn how, to learn - from our challenges. Only in learning can we move ahead and get better at what we do, and feel better about who we are. I fully believe that one of the sacred teachings of Christianity, and many other faiths, is forgiveness. It isn't easily done, but it frees us from (im)perfections and allows us to move past not only our own Persian flaws, but move past the Persian flaws of others.
How can we, striving for perfection in our teams, our companies, our families, and in our places of worship accept and learn from our imperfections, the differences we share in our very midst? Whether we intentionally "make a flaw" ("Yes, I just made that Persian flaw for the sake of our team") or we experience the consequences from unintended flaws such as the collective grief felt by all at Penn State in 2012, we have to learn how, to learn - from our challenges. Only in learning can we move ahead and get better at what we do, and feel better about who we are. I fully believe that one of the sacred teachings of Christianity, and many other faiths, is forgiveness. It isn't easily done, but it frees us from (im)perfections and allows us to move past not only our own Persian flaws, but move past the Persian flaws of others.
The Golden Thread is my best response to what I was feeling during my nearly 500 FEMA housing inspections during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath in late 2005. As I see it (TGT) is about our connection to God, our relationship to the natural world, and our connection to each other. After seeing what I saw, and from knowing what I know about teams and humanity and spirituality, I wanted to offer some constructive solace to those who may yet be searching for forgiveness, for themselves, and forgiveness from others.
Call it The Golden Rule if you wish. Jesus spoke of it when he pointed out that all the law and all the prophets hang on loving God and on loving thy neighbor as thyself (Mark 12:28-31). Worship God in the way that you wish (sprinklers vs dunkers take heed and shake hands). ;-) But in the end, this site is going to used to talk about our ways of connecting (TGT) when we are in crisis as well as when we are happy. Of course it is in times of crisis when we are most tested to be at our best (or our worst) with the rest of humanity, and it is also when we are the most challenged to come into the deepest point in our relationship to our Creator (God).
Call it The Golden Rule if you wish. Jesus spoke of it when he pointed out that all the law and all the prophets hang on loving God and on loving thy neighbor as thyself (Mark 12:28-31). Worship God in the way that you wish (sprinklers vs dunkers take heed and shake hands). ;-) But in the end, this site is going to used to talk about our ways of connecting (TGT) when we are in crisis as well as when we are happy. Of course it is in times of crisis when we are most tested to be at our best (or our worst) with the rest of humanity, and it is also when we are the most challenged to come into the deepest point in our relationship to our Creator (God).
God Is Good Sign to a driveway. Be thankful For what you have is the message here.
The Background Image is of a Completely Destroyed House After a Tornado
Passed by, Killing Dozens of People In the Immediate Area.
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