In worship yesterday, we practiced discerning our sense of calling by responding the questions below. The key is not to think about them too hard and to make note of the first images/answers/feelings that rise.
What follows is from Anthony DeMellow’s exercises as adapted by Brian Mahan in Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose.
Exercise 1 (Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose, 57)
Recall the kind of feeling you have when someone praises you, when you are approved, accepted, applauded. Think about that for a moment.
Recall the kind of feeling you have when you look at the sunset or the sunrise or the natural world in general, or when you read a book or watch a movie that you thoroughly enjoy.
Exercise 2 (Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose, 63)
Here is the first sentence: “I will be happy when…”
Here is the second sentence: “I was so happy that time when…”
2 Comments
Delilah/The Table on Tap
I meant to attend church again – I think I’m afraid to discern my calling or vocation. I’m afraid of the decisions I might have to make after that… even these questions scare me.
Betty Loumoli
Exercise 1: Calm, nothing else matters but the landscape in front you and you start feeling like the world is a HUGE place full of beautiful things…
Exercise 2:
I will be happy when I finish school and get a degree.
I was so happy that time when I first shared how it was with my soul…