Dear Friend,
We are looking forward to our next retreat, February 23–25, on The Art and Practice of Spiritual Discernment. An increasing capacity to discern and do the will of God is one of the tangible outcomes of our spiritual transformation as Paul notes in Romans 12:2. It is exciting to have arrived at the point in the Transforming Community experience where we are ready to explore this together.
Reflecting on the Last Quarter
As this quarter draws to a close, carve out time to reflect on the questions found in your During the Quarter document (or below) and prepare your 2–3-page paper related to the themes from the last retreat. You may want to bring a copy of your paper to the dinner conversation you will have with your small group, allowing it to form the basis of your sharing. There will also be a copy of the questions in your retreat folder when you arrive.
- How have you incorporated a greater emphasis on self-knowledge and self-examination into your spiritual rhythms over the last quarter? What has your experience been? What aspects have been most challenging and most beneficial?
- What has God been revealing to you in your practice of self-examination as we explored this practice from Psalm 139?
- What has been the fruit of your continued reflections on the Enneagram teaching? What are you noticing about the compulsions of the false self and how these patterns play themselves out in your life? Where have you gotten a clearer glimpse of your true self and perhaps even made choices that are more congruent with your true self in God?
Spend some time reflecting on the power of confession as you experienced it on retreat and also at other times in your life when you might have practiced it. How do you experience all three expressions—personal (with God), interpersonal (with a trusted friend or confessor and with persons you have offended), and corporate? What is the role and significance of confession in your life personally and as a leader relative to your process of spiritual transformation?
Even if you are not handing in a paper for the certificate program, we would encourage you to write down a few of your reflections as a way of pulling your thoughts together in preparation for sharing with your small group. As we head into Retreat #7 (of 9), our time together becomes even more precious and we want to use every minute well!
Preparing for the Upcoming Retreat
We will gather at 5:30 PM (instead of 5:45) in the St. Charles Amphitheater for a few orienting comments and then walk together to dinner at 5:45 where you will meet with your small group. Please find the other members of your group as quickly as possible so you can eat together and catch up regarding the last quarter. Use this as a time to update each other on significant happenings in your life and also what you have been experiencing in response to the teaching on self-examination, self-knowledge, and confession. If you will not be present at dinner, please let your group know ahead of time so they won't be waiting for you.
Since the theme for this retreat is The Art and Practice of Spiritual Discernment, I would encourage you to come with a decision or question—large or small—that is a real issue of discernment for you. This will ensure you have the opportunity to actually begin practicing the principles of discernment rather than merely engaging the material in a theoretical fashion. Some of you are facing significant issues that require more than human wisdom; they require the wisdom of God that is a pure gift, taught by the Spirit, who interprets spiritual things to those who are spiritual. It takes courage to take significant decisions into a discernment process, but I pray you will consider doing so.
In Mark 3 Jesus defines his spiritual community as those who do the will of God. May we enter into this retreat as those committed to knowing and doing the will of God, and may we experience this Transforming Community as a gathering of spiritual companions willing to support each other in a true discernment process.
Grace and peace,
