Over several decades I’ve followed a series of four poetic images to enlarge an understanding of how we encounter the sacred in history, mystery, hope and heart incorporating the motions encountered in moving through Chaos, Cosmos, Kenosis and Kairos. This model has found form in six week courses, in ongoing conversations within spiritual direction (using both individual and group models), in pastoral and educational endeavours and on a number of one day and weekend retreats. The images are based on four recurring actions I see in the business of being human together:
(1) We construct tables of models and mentors for our comfort, ethics and understanding,
(Suggestion: Looking back at your life in ten year intervals, name 12 people that sat at your table ordering your life).
(2) We take unfinished journeys to unknown destinations by faith, conviction or accident.
(Suggestion: Looking back at your life in ten year intervals, name 12 pilgrimages that took you on a mysterious journey to a new destination)
(3) We take a breath of fresh air for surprise, inspiration and refreshment in the middle on it all and find ourselves refreshed and renewed.
(Suggestion: Looking back at your life in ten year intervals, name 12 fresh air moments that left you ready to begin again.)
(4) We begin this seasonal, incomplete and unfinished cycle one more time.
(Suggestion: If you want to take this further, let’s talk further about Spiritual Directions!)
The Merton Centre 