LIFE

What do we mean by “convoLIFE”?

Life is in the conversation. Relationships, and especially life-giving relationships, have their roots in our conversations together.
‘To get to the next level of greatness, depends on the quality of the culture, which depends on the quality of relationships, which depends on the quality of conversations.
Everything happens through conversations.”
Judith E. Glaser

The prospects of life lie in our conversations. They are the generative engine room for possibility, the arena for Hope to be realised.
‘Speech (logos) is responsible for nearly all our inventions. It legislated in matters of justice and injustice and beauty and baseness, and without these laws, we could not live with one another. By it we refute the bad and praise the good; through it, we educate the ignorant and recognize the intelligent. We regard speaking well to be the clearest sign of a good mind, which it requires, and truthful, lawful, and just speech we consider the image (eidolon) of a good and faithful soul … if one must summarize the power of discourse, we will discover that nothing done prudently occurs without speech (logos), that speech is the leader of all thoughts and actions, and that the most intelligent people use it most of all.’
Isocrates

Life itself is found in the largest conversations of all – those of God with his people and his planet
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV)

Life everlasting is found in conversations with the Word – the one who combines truth and life.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. … I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
John 17:3-8 ESV

In challenging times, life finds meaning, coherence, connectedness and the strength for tomorrow in conversation. This is especially so when the challenges are complex, for then nothing but multi-vocal conversations are capable of finding a way forward.
The strategy for an alternative future is to focus on ways a shift in conversation can shift the context and thereby create an intentional future. Reconciliation of community, or a future different and not determined by the past, occurs through a shift in language. Operationally, this means engaging in conversations we have not had before.
Peter Block

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