October 2012 Vol. XXXII, No. 8
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
The way we look at a group photo can say a lot about how we relate to other events.
A
s we begin October, we also begin our discernment process for our provincial elections.
There is a Buddhist teaching that says the way we look at a group photo symbolizes how we look at and relate to events around us. Most of us first look at the photo to see ourselves and how we look. But if we stay there and judge the quality of the picture merely from how “I” look in it, we miss the point of the group photo. We need to widen our focus both in how we look at such a photo and how we look at and make decisions about events in our lives and in our world. Particularly, when we come to important events, like elections, we want to see the whole picture and not get caught in any small egotistical focus.
Our elections are not about “me” but about “ us” and God’s dreams for us as SSpS in the Paraclete Province. Communal discernment starts with the premise and faith that God does have a desire for us as a Province. God is inviting us to a role in his mission right here in 2012. This fills us with enthusiasm and courage and even curiosity to look When one is wrapped up in himself for the big picture, to see God’s plan by together he makes a pretty small package. discerning our direction forward and who can best ~John Ruskin lead us in this way. We want together to be in tune with God’s picture, God’s goodness and dream for us. We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness. Communal Discernment is always a movement ~Thich Nhat Hanh from the “I” to the “We”. To become “we”, to become one with the mind and heart of Christ, we (continued on page 2)