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2003 Discussion Notes |
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2003 Discussion Notes |
NCD Process / Archive / WHF |
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Seven groups met over the last month. A total of 47 different individuals participated. Five people were in more than one group. As we gather to discern God’s leading, please look over this “sense of the meeting” gleaned from the notes of the many discussion groups. WHAT DOES “SPIRITUALITY” MEAN TO YOU? “Spirituality” concerns itself with relationship: our relationship to God, to the world around us and to one another. When we open ourselves and listen to the Spirit of Christ, we become more deeply aware of these relationships. This awareness can change our perception and the way we live all aspects of our lives. HOW DO YOU DEEPEN SPIRITUALLY? Sometimes, we find ourselves surprised by a sense of God’s nearness. And sometimes our best efforts fall flat. We conclude that the spiritual life is not entirely under our control Although our control is limited, we can generate a list of things that help us connect with the Spirit of Christ. These include: Silence, Solitude, Nature, Creative Expression (art, music, et al), Reading/Study, Prayer, Service to Others, Habits of Thought (gratitude, appreciation, etc.) and Meeting for Worship. We often see God at work in the relationships that mean most to us. We would hasten to add that rote obligation to any religious practice is unlikely to inspire us. The process of spiritual growth is seldom done through gritted teeth. In fact, the spiritual journey often feels like “letting go,” “releasing,” learning to let Someone else be in control. WHICH MINISTRIES OF WHF HELP THOSE INVOLVED DEEPEN SPIRITUALLY Our priority is building a sense of connection to one another. We also want to have opportunities for education /training and opportunities to respond to what God is doing in our lives (this could mean opportunities to serve, opportunities to speak, or something else). WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL PERSON? While we don’t feel comfortable measuring other people for their spiritual depth, we recognize that some people live their faith in a way that draws us in. We admire their courage, their serenity, their joy, their compassion, etc. These people are life-giving! WHAT MAKES THIS AN EASY/HARD TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION? People who responded to this question seemed to feel safe having this sort of a discussion in a small group. By and large, people trusted others in their group. There was, however, a sense that “some people” might be offended by certain words or ideas. People pointed to this fear of offending others as a reason to avoid the topic in other settings. Some people also expressed insecurity about their ability to speak clearly on this topic. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS Several people reported that this exercise was a spiritual discipline that helped them deepen spiritually. People seem willing (even eager) to engage one another on this topic. We remain deeply suspicious of religious formulas and self-appointed religious experts. | |
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