Associates What's New | Photo Gallery | Associates
What's New
Recent News
|
Edna Enneking Memorial letter for Edna is here: Edna Bernice Church Memorial letter for Bernice is here: Bernice The Art of Praying
Find information regarding the prayer day in June: Prayer Free Retreat
Shine without Fear; Illuminate Yourself Retreat in September. Click here for more information: Retreat
|
| In the space below you will find an on-going conversation about Riding the Dragon by Robert Wicks. Join us as we reflect on the book's wisdom. Your comments are most welcome as we move through the chapters. |
 |
|
Riding the Dragon: 10 Lessons for Inner Strength
in Challenging Times by Robert Wicks |
|
Discussion of Chapter Nine and Ten |
|
Jane Schaefer
Lessons Nine and Ten: As we bring Robert Wisks' book Riding the Dragon to a close I find myself reading and re-reading his words about reflection and prayer. "Practicing reflection and/or prayer requires no special equipment or extraordinary place. It is simply a matter of attitude." So much of life is about attitude. The question I find myself pondering is where and how does God fit into our attitudes?
|
|
Janet Sturwald Lesson Nine assures me simplicity is the key to the inner life and three counter-cultural approaches to this simplicity are asceticism, gratefulness and honesty. I understand asceticism as self-denial that is a way of surrendering to reduce circumstances in a manner that enhances the whole person. An ascetic person is someone who regards nothing as personal possession but in spirit owns everything. Gratefulness is appreciation of the small things in life and the willingness to share with others. Honesty is letting go of unnecessary external possessions. These will help me be at home with myself and my God. Lesson Ten tells me of the value of silence and meditation which is necessary to live simply. It is the food of life. I need to recognize the value of being still and take time for solitude. In silence and solitude I can clear my consciousness and create space to think about my mortality. This will give me an opportunity to refocus, to laugh at myself, to be gentler with myself, and to learn to be grateful for my life. |
|
Carolyn Meyer I've always been a fan of Thoreau, and Wicks uses one of his quotes to express the importance of simplicity, "a person is rich in proportion to the things he can afford to let alone." I have felt a wonderful sense of peace in my life when I could enjoy it just as it is and desire no more. Chapter Ten leads us back to living with gratitude and living in the moment instead of wishing we were somewhere else. I agree with him about identifying what upsets us so we can work through it. Also important is to recognize that faithfulness is one of the keys to staying on our journey as we embrace all of life, the pleasant and not so pleasant.
|
| Thanks to the generous donations of several Sisters we have developed quite a library of resources. Books, CD's and DVD's are available for your use to increase your knowledge about many spiritual and religious topics. We have multiple copies of several books, especially about Francis and Clare that would be helpful for group discussions. Don't forget, if you have read a book that you find particularly insightful or meaningful we are always looking for book reviews for our newsletter! Click here for the entire list of resources: oldenburgfranciscans/resources |
