The Right Trouble
This is my last newsletter article as President.  Just writing that brings a pause and a moment of reflection on my experience this past year.  It has been a year of unexpected turns, fun and surprises.  At times I have asked myself, "is this what I signed up for."  But when I have some time to reflect I ask, "what is here that I might need to know or learn from?"
 
Leadership involves having vision, direction and a sense of what you would like to do.  It also is about managing the trouble that comes your way.  Trouble comes in many forms.  Seldom is it wanted.  Maybe that is why we work so hard to avoid it. 
 
What if trouble shows up for some good reason?  Would we know?  Could it be that the trouble we find ourselves in might be the very circumstances for new learning?  Far from perfect and with no intention on becoming so, I wonder if avoiding trouble only leads to more trouble?  Maybe a genuine life requires that I accept my own clumsiness, vulnerability and trouble and see what gifts it brings.
 
 Michael Mead writes, "... the point of trouble (is) to get us into deeper waters than we might choose on our own.  People have problems and can even handle them, but people "find themselves" when in the midst of what truly troubles them."  He goes on to say that when we avoid trouble we usually make things worse but that wisdom depends on being in the "right trouble."  The right trouble leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves.  Taken a step further I would say it is our own relationship to our troubles in which we discover who we are (becoming).
 
 A client is very angry.  She is tired of being very angry.  She says she is "just trudging along with no joy or hope."  She hates her troubles and wants to get rid of them.  I empathize; no one should have such troubles.  They cause her much suffering and were unwanted.  As disturbing as her troubles are, there she will find herself and her way forward.  We agree it is time to sit compassionately with these troubles.
 
 There are many wonderful things about SCA and the people I have worked with this year.  I feel blessed to have had this opportunity to serve and to "find out something more about myself."  For me it really has been about being in "deeper waters than I might choose" and then learning something more about who I am and how to contribute more effectively.  The gift I receive for my service is a deeper understanding of myself.
 
 I believe our soul wants us to get into a little trouble once in a while.  To enter deep waters and be surprised by what we learn about ourselves.  I hope all of you can find just the right trouble and help your clients do the same.  It reminds me that we are all in the same boat, some of us having a bit more experience with riding the waves and swimming to safety when we fall out.