Peter Block: The Commitment Conversation

The Common Good podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging.  This is the fifth episode in a series of six episodes focusing on the six conversations from Peter Block’s work. Beginning with invitation, possibility, ownership and dissent, we now turn to the commitment conversation.  The final conversation for the next episode is the gifts conversation.  These conversations are designed to occur in small groups, seeking to produce transformation in communities.You can find more about the conversations in Peter's book, Community: Structure of Belonging, and from these videos on Peter's website.The recited poem was written by guest host, Devin Bustin:39 miles into your roadYou woke in a dark woodThe whole way was wholly lostShadow the noonday sunFurther into every fearYou can’t go backYou can’t stay hereNoises you can’t nameSong without a shapeIf you find a pathThen it’s not your pathBlind to all lightExcept the sparkFlicker behind the frightJust step and let it leap to flameAnd whirl at the weakest waveFurther into every fearYou can’t go backGod knows what’s hereNotice how the groundWants to pull you downFire in its coreFire in your coreLet it light your songBrittle but your ownEverything will changeEvery time you change This episode was guest hosted by Devin Bustin. Devin Bustin is a writer and teacher who lives in Loveland, Ohio. Growing up, Devin attended well over a dozen schools across Canada and the United States. This gave him a longing to know specific places, to connect with openness, and to create belonging. Raised Pentecostal, Devin wrestles with the faith he inherited, often through fiction, essays, and poetry. He is often working on a song, and his emergent work can be found at devinbustin.com. This episode was produced by Joey Taylor and the music is from Jeff Gorman. You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation.