Senge on facilitation and cursing the wind
Peter Senge in Edges from back in 2000:
“Facilitation is much like sailing. You’ve got to work with whatever arises. That’s my experience. Whatever arises is exactly what is supposed to arise. Whether or not it is convenient doesn’t matter. And that sort of trust is usually the mark of a masterful facilitator. Good facilitators have actually internalized a belief based on experience, that whatever happens is supposed to have happened — even if it is very problematic and unfortunate. And because of that belief, you don’t waste your energy trying to fight what is going on. Instead you try working with it. If the sailor is pissed off because the wind changes direction, it doesn’t do much good.”