Going With God's Flow
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This document discusses how God's energy impels believers towards relationship, connection, collaboration and partnership. It explores how Vincent and Louise's vision was of serving the poor and belonging to one another. It examines how resistance can be an invitation to go with God's flow and transform, drawing on the wisdom of founders like Vincent, Louise and Elizabeth Seton. The "and" is presented as a Vincentian concept, embracing both/and thinking to serve with head and heart through charity and justice. The conclusion prays that readers will be pliable in God's hands and ready to serve God's energy of relationship.
Going With God's Flow
- 1. Going with God’s Flow The Charity of Christ Impels Us by Regina Bechtle, SC
- 2. Going with God’s Flow The Charity of Christ Impels Us by Regina Bechtle, SC
- 3. Introduction Energy of God’s love Overview God’s energy impels us toward Relationship, connection, collaboration, partnership Ways we resist energy Resistance is an invitation to go with the flow Resource to harness energy of resistance Wisdom of our Vincentian founders Great Vincentian word “and”
- 4. God’s Energy Impels Us Reign of God = new way of being in relationship Jesus’ dream - belonging Vincent and Louise’s vision Poor have a claim on us We belong to one another Elizabeth Seton’s vision Relationships of belonging impel to lives of service Frederic, Rosalie’s vision Bring Christ’s love to a cold world, make it a place where all belong
- 5. Creation Fundamental direction of creation From “I” to “We” Grace of knowing we belong, especially to those in need Called to break boundaries
- 6. Breaking Boundaries • Rich and poor • Between – Our groups – Our Congregations – Our Provinces “We are food and drink for one another. We are one another’s body and blood. We are one another’s salvation.” (Ivone Gebara)
- 7. Resistance A Look at resistance Impel or repel? All living things resist threats to survival Institutions resist change Resistance as a teacher Usually in the place where we are afraid Resistance has a positive face Resistance is the dragon guarding precious treasure
- 8. Resistance Plays key role in transformation Our wounds are doorways into conversion “We must be so careful to meet our grace” (Elizabeth) “Go to the places that scare you.” (Buddhist Saying) “What if, at least occasionally, we came together in order to change our mind?” (Margaret Wheatley)
- 9. Motivation to Transformation What moves us to conversion and transformation? Opening to the needs of others Place of resistance is a holy place where God is very active
- 10. Wisdom of Our Founders The Vincentian “and” The way to God is the way of both/and – Love God AND love the neighbor – Rich AND Poor – Action AND Prayer – Solitude AND community – Head AND Heart – Now AND not-yet – Charity AND justice – Service that is material AND spiritual
- 11. The Grace of “AND” “And” is the place of grace for us in the Vincentian Family • Who else needs to be part of this conversation, this planning? • Whose wisdom are we missing? • What if we invited xxxxx to join us?
- 12. Let Us Pray God of relationship, deepen in us the conviction that we are one another’s food and drink, one another’s salvation. God of the “AND”, turn our self-sufficiency into a deep desire to be about Your mission together. Make us pliable in Your hands, ever-creating God, And unrestricted in our readiness to serve Your energy,
- 13. Let Us Pray To go with Your flow, To be re-shaped and refashioned in Your image of collaborative community, Wherever You lead us. AMEN