How are we transformed as we discover freedom from old habits and die to old ways of doing and being. How will we “be” in the challenges we face? “How much kinder we would be to ourselves, how much wiser, if we were to have already transformed loneliness into aloneness, far before the time of our death.” (Kathleen Dowling Singh, The Grace in Aging). The aging process is bringing us into the deeper realm of the spiritual (Kathleen Dowling Singh), and Mystery unfolds in us as individuals and as a community of dwellers. We encounter a shift from activities of achievement and being self-important, to one of fruitfulness, passivity and facing our deaths, often within spiritual darkness. Being fully present to the burdens and blessings of the aging process invites us into acceptance of the final season of our lives. We face our mortality as a way to transform the way we are currently living. Earle).ĭiscovering in the Forest: In phase 3, we begin to make discoveries amidst the realities of aging. It is this unsettling that encourages us to practice in solidarity with the Earth beneath our feet: life right here, right now (M. We are learning “to rest in God instead of restlessly seeking God” (Augustine, Ron Rolheiser.) This is a time of Holy Wandering, leading to new experiences of Divine Presence within and all around us. We are finding new spiritual practices, a new rythym, a new Sabbath in keeping with our changing lives. ![]() We experience grieving in a way that allows us to fully enter into the pain of life, while allowing it to transform us. It’s a time of letting go, of squarely facing all that we have lost. Wandering the Forest: In phase 2, we wander into new territory, encountering what no longer works, confronting fears, noticing the emotions that come when we are no longer valued in the ways we once were. What is your relationship with your aging body, your place as an elder in community, your maturing relationship God, and how will this be lived out in the ripening elder years? It is coming face-to-face with the biological, psychological, emotional and spiritual changes which are pushing us away from the familiar territory of our younger life into the unknown and seeing these rites of initiation into another way of life rather than as signs of the end. It’s a time for experiencing new contemplative practices. It’s a time to explore and expand our ways of seeing the world. It’s a time for exploring new ways of being, of serving, of discipleship. Of course, the “treasure” will be different for you in the second half of life – the releasing of old identities of self- importance, learning and experiencing what is fruitful at the end of life, and forming a maturing relationship with God (by whatever name you choose).Įntering the Forest: In phase 1, you will enter into the Forest, setting your intention and exploring what you need to pack for this journey, and equally important, what you will need to unpack – old ideas, spiritual understandings, beliefs, and wounds. Rather it is akin to a delicious smorgasbord of materials, ideas, experiences, people, poetry, arts and Mystery in which you are invited to taste, chew on, set down, go back for more, spit out, or simply marvel at the wonders of the program. This program is not designed as a traditional educational program with highly structured material and outcomes. All elements are seen as vital to the transformation happening within participants on this journey. The Forest Dwelling Program (FDP) is conceived as a dynamic interplay among the individual, the FDP community and Divine Mystery. ![]() ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |