Chaplain José R. Bourget

Faith Development through Crisis or Discipline Get Close Faith Development through Crisis or Discipline

Faith Development through Crisis or Discipline Get Close Faith Development through Crisis or Discipline

What are the range of emotions and attitudes expressed by students going through crisis or discipline?

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles…(Jeremiah 29:11)

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles … (Jeremiah 29:1)

Showing courage inspires exiles.

In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”

Over time, this definition has changed, and, today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes,

but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage.

Heroics is often about putting our life on the line Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. (Brown, Brene. The Gifts of Imperfection - p. 13. )

Exhiles are still worthy of a Good life.

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage,

so that they too may have sons and daughters so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:4-7

Worthy now. Not if. Not when. We are worthy of love and belonging now Worthy now. Not if. Not when. We are worthy of love and belonging now. Right this minute. As is. (Brown, Brene. The Gifts of Imperfection. p. 24)

Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you.

Do not listen to the dreams (fortune telling) you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:8-9

Exile provides a unique opportunity to re-order priorities.

The résumé virtues are the ones you list on your résumé, the skills that you bring to the job market and that contribute to external success.

The eulogy virtues are deeper The eulogy virtues are deeper. They’re the virtues that get talked about at your funeral, the ones that exist at the core of your being— whether you are kind, brave, honest or faithful; what kind of relationships you formed. (Brooks, David The Road to Character)

Assimilate His thoughts for the exiles.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Exiles need the precision of surgeons not the force of the butcher.

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

For Jesus, truth is not a philosophy or a matter of thought For Jesus, truth is not a philosophy or a matter of thought. Truth is a matter of relationships and realities. Jesus didn’t offer the world a new belief system.

He offered the world a new heart— a new heart for God, a new heart for yourself, a new heart for truth, a new heart for life, a new heart for others. This is the divine story of relationships… (Sweet, Leonard The Three Hardest Words)