Light
Light: iPhone 11
“I don’t know if I believe in art. I certainly believe in light.”
Let’s turn our faces to the light.
Some of my recent wanderings have been rattled by thunder and doused by rain. The anticipation of a deluge brings crackling anxiety into the trees and their canopies rock in the downdraught of the advancing storm cell. As droplets splash and bounce on my jacket, my eyes fall to the path and I feel safe in the luxury of my hood, gloves and boots.
Walking and singing in the rain; it’s the simple things that sustain us.
As the dark skies pass and the chattering rainfall eases, the moment comes when I raise my sightline. Looking through the entanglements of our earthborn concerns there is always a brighter sky, and I turn my face towards the light.
Pausing to feel the sun on my skin is a practice that is beyond simple optimism. All the plants and trees that surround me work in the same heliotropic way; we turn towards the source of energy that sustains us. The heliotropic hypothesis or principle is well documented in Appreciative Inquiry, coaching, Organisational Development and many other educational models; it tells us that we move towards the visions that are most life giving. Indeed, it feels as though the world participates with us as we encourage brighter, generative imagery and intentions.
As James Turrell says, “Light knows when you are looking at it.”
Over the last few years, we have come to know that we live in an imperfect world and it’s likely that our challenges will increase in the future. We will need to make choices about how we show up for each other. Difficult choices about trust, support, care, and investment in each other and our planet.
We won’t get it right every time but perhaps we can find a new dawn if together we look towards the light.
Notes:
Please do take a look at James Turrell’s extraordinary, ethereal, works of art. James is a pilot with over 12,000 hours flying; he considers the sky as his studio, material and canvas. His work is questioning, beautiful and profound.
Appreciative Inquiry is the study and exploration of what gives life to human organisations at their best. A couple of good references include ‘The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A practical guide to positive change’ by Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom, and ‘Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination’ by Jane Watkins and Bernard Mohr.
Finally, my friend and fellow Ashridge Organisational Change PhD grad, Joeri Kabalt, contributed to this really helpful handbook addressing Appreciative Inquiry as a Daily Leadership Practice. Joeri is aka @mymorningwalks on Instagram.
