Transformation Story

A year ago the organization where I worked had a seemingly impossible situation which has since been resolved. The coincidence did not occur to me until I put it into words at the Friday night small group session Friday, July 25, at the conference. The turnaround began shortly after I began to hold TCC classes on the premises last October.

The agency I direct educates men to become non-violent partners and parents. The great amounts of sadness, anger and isolation absorbed by these walls could only benefit, I thought, from the balancing infusion of some positive energy. I basically believed that it couldn’t hurt to try it.

Change did occur as a result of the regular practice of TCC once a week in the same room where the men have their classes. Not only was there suddenly a noticeable lightness in the environment, but old wounds of in-fighting healed, staff morale increased, new classes were added on and the agency began to experience financial stability for the first time in years. That was three months ago and we’re still growing, volunteers are with us and anonymous donations and grants are assuring our future survival.

I soon began to wonder about how this lovely peace could be maintained and two messages came to me. It became urgent that all our volunteer co-educators, men and women, commit to modeling exactly what it was that they taught the men in regards to respectful interaction and be willing to accept personal growth. The protective concept was that every volunteer and staff person needed to think of him or herself as part of a team so as not to become overwhelmed. I don’t just mean realizing the obvious teamwork with current staff, but all the people both past and future who have touched or will touch our clients’ lives. In this way, in the words of Susan B. Anthony, “failure is impossible,” and success does not depend solely on our individual interventions.

What I would like to say about the transformation is that I know I had prayed for it to happen, and I was the channel for the change. It is never all “done” for us. We have to know how to steward the changes. If you have a difficult work place situation and can find a way to incorporate the practice of TCC, you may see similar results.

God’s blessing on Lois, Liz and Roberta who have kept us connected so faithfully and God’s protection on all my sister and brother teachers until next we see one another.