Carol Barton:
--we bring a deep spirituality that is not necessarily one theology or religion,
but a profound exploration of the Spirit and our own souls. The contemplative
tradition is an important part of this. The Grail needs to continue
to create a space for that inner search, and for connecting with others on
this search within community. There are many people yearning for this.
Our strength is that this is linked to commitment to transformation of the
world for justice, not just an inward search, and people are yearning for
that as well.
--Some of us want to do our social justice work from within the Grail.
Some of us do this elsewhere, and seek the Grail space for community, education
and spiritual deepening, but not necessarily for our activism. How
do we provide spaces for both of these, in a way that is coherent enough
to project a picture of what the Grail is to others, as well as to finance
our ongoing work? How could we do greater outreach to those seeking
spaces to articulate "alternative lifestyles and visions" that Mary Gene
mentions, as well as the leadership development Jackie has been discussing,
which has been a cornerstone of our movement. How do we continue to
enable global exchanges and global visioning? How do we finance this
when donors want to see concrete projects serving a wider public? Much
will need to come from within our movement, yet many of us have chosen paths
that haven't generated bounty. I personally hope that we find ways
to effectively utilize our properties, rather that selling them off bit by
bit, further diminishing our capacity to do outreach and programs.
I know that can't happen without some intense work.
I want to share two wonderful books I have just read. One, by Rebecca
Solnit (Nation Publishers, 2004) is about real social change happening in
what appears to be depressing political times, and the nature of social change
as drips of water that erode stones, rather than simple linear cause and
effect. It is very powerful. It's called: Hope in the Dark:
Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities. The other book is about "soul
listening." The idea that we can only truly hear others when we have
done our own "soul work" in connecting to the Spirit within us, our own inner
turmoils, and then learning how to be open to that unspoken by others.
It's by Cari Jackson, The Gift to Listen, the Courage to Hear, (Augsburg
Fortress, 2003.) It's very powerful. Politics, and Spirituality--
hope these are helpful to you.
Mary Hughes: Thank you Jackie for challenging us to think
more deeply. For me commitment in the Grail has been a way to live my commitment
to God as a Catholic Christian. However my work is miles away from my grail
sisters and Grail meetings are a month or more apart. What sustains me on
a daily basis is parish life, Eucharist, small faith group etc. In the Eucharist
I am united with Jesus and the people of God (all people) in a special way,
and leave the celebration empowered to do the work of transformation.For
me it is also vital to begin and end each day with the Liturgy of the Hours.
This provides time to seek direction in the morning and to evaluate my day
in the evening, returning to God both success and failure and trusting the
Mother of God to be a model and guide.
Patricia Strong: Tim, my husband now of almost five years, and
I have recently returned from the Parliament of the World's Religions
in Barcelona.....diversity was the NAME OF THE GAME. In 1974 after 23 years
of vowed life I left a religious community. There too there had been
unimagineable struggles over diversity. I myself was one of those who worked
for "freedom" for my sisters to "live outside of the box." We attained it
on paper and I then left the community. We have all lived through Vatican
II AND ITS AFTERMATH....OPENING TO A BIGGER VISION OF Catholic and
Diversity. How amazing that we have all survuved !!!!!!
Something I learned about the Parliament...There was a hiatus of 100 years
- 1893 to 1993 between the first and second Parliaments. Folks were
not ready in 1893 to be with each other on this global level of communication
and sharing. Is it any wonder that we struggle??
One of the themes of the Parliament - a primary one - was DEEP LISTENING.
I join all of you in my attempts to listen deeply to the heart of each one
of us. We -especially those steeped in the Christian tradition are "of the
Word." Yet the Word is out of SILENCE......
I pray that I - we - remain true to this silence as we seek to speak to
one another and our world.