Elephants

Elephants are always popping up in the living spaces of community. They are big, awkward and very present BUT people are so prone to act as if there are no elephants. If I look at you with a blank stare and smile maybe we won't have to deal with the pachyderm in our midst.

"Let's move forward and not look back. I just don't have permission to talk about that. Now is not a good time to deal with this."

"When can we? When would be a good time? I really want to resolve this. Let's put our cards on the table and speak clearly, honestly and directly about the elephant in the room."

"Well that's a thought but I'm just not willing to do that."

We really are only as sick as our secrets and our unwillingness to hit head on the real issues before us only keeps us unhealthy. Sergeant Schultz is still saying "I see nothing, I know nothing" after all these years and in an attempt to maintain the illusion we collude with the throng with selective vision.

Families, businesses, churches and organizations will always remain dysfunctional when they fail to engage in healthy conflict and confront the elephants. Dysfunctional systems will always scapegoat the child who exclaims "The Emperor is naked!" and will go back to "oohing and aahing" over the Emperor's new wardrobe.