Recollection
WHAT REALLY IS RECOLLECTION? WHY SHOULD I RECOLLECT?
PARADIGMS FOR UNDERSTANDING RECOLLECTION
1. LIFE IS A JOURNEY! ONCE IN A WHILE, I SHOULD ASK MYSELF, “WHERE AM I NOW IN MY JOURNEY?” “WHERE AM I HEADING?” “AM I HEADING TOWARDS MY GOALS?”
2. I AM THE CAPTAIN OF MY LIFE! MY LIFE IS WHAT I MAKE IT!
To make or unmake my life … 3. I have the POWER To make or unmake my life …
Recollection as a time to P.A.U.S.E.
P= prayer Deep prayer
PRAYER IS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Communication is just a part of prayer; without personal intimate relationship, communication becomes meaningless.
Prayer is intimacy with God.
A= ACCEPTANCE MY PAST – events, persons, and what I have done. - the call is a gentle self- acceptance. - to accept my past without regrets.
ACCEPT MY PRESENT – the “now” moment! - The call is to appreciate who I am and what I have at present - I appreciate myself. - I am graced and gratitude-filled.
is filled with possibilities I am hope-filled not resentful. ACCEPT MY FUTURE what is coming to life is filled with possibilities and not fear or worry. I am hope-filled not resentful.
-To collect or to put things together to live a life of wholeness. ACCEPT Recollection: -To collect or to put things together to live a life of wholeness. - To exist with meaning and truth!
for myself? “Accepting my Humanity” -Do I accept myself? -Do I truly love and care for myself?
Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change. (Katherine Mansfield)
UNDERSTAND …
To understand is to conform my mind to the truth.
Do I understand the things about my life? Do I understand my faith? What should I understand so I can move on?
Silence … WE PAUSE TO EXPERIENCE SILENCE …
but also the presence of peace! Silence is not only the absence of noise… but also the presence of peace!
But also the presence of God! Peace is not only the absence of chaos … But also the presence of God!
Encountering the Self …
Recollection is a moment where you think deeper about the meaning of yourself.
from reward to blessings
Silence allows me to journey into my inner self where I can find my true self and my true God.
Encountering the other … It is through the other that I am me …
Encountering God who is in the little things or this world. Enjoy the little things. One day you may look back and realize that they were the big things. Encountering God who is in the little things or this world.
RECOLLECTION IS A MOMENT OF REFOCUSING – RECENTERING YOUR LIFE.
Recollection is a moment of asking what drives you? And where to?
Change Goal of recollection: When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world; As I grew older and wiser I realized the world would not change. And I decided to shorten my sights somewhat and change only my country. But it too seemed immovable.
As I entered my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I sought to change only my family, those closest to me, but alas they would not have none of it. And now here I lie on my death bed and realize (perhaps for the first time) that if only I’d change myself first, then by example I may have influenced my family and with their encouragement and support I may have bettered my country, and who knows I may have changed the world. (Anglican Bishop)
Encountering the Self…
Why should I give importance to myself? - I am created in the image and likeness of God. I am an Imago Dei. - I have unquestionable dignity. -I am unique.
However, despite our unquestionable dignity and uniqueness there is a SLIPPING AWAY FROM OUR OWN SELF. Most of us cannot recognize our own value and uniqueness because we often believe that SERVING OTHERS COMES FIRST THAN KNOWING OUR SELF.
This becomes the problem because… ...the picture we have of our self is formed by the way other people relate to us. …we define and measure our self-worth through the way other people relate to us.
Good relation of others = feeling of worthiness Bad relation of others = feeling of unworthiness As such, …to be in the safe side and not to be hurt, MOST OFTEN WE WEAR MASK!
Why do we wear Mask To meet the expectations of other people, to be accepted. …The need to belong to a certain group. …You must fit- in or conform to their system.
2. To feel good or secured …Wearing mask makes you feel good because for a moment your real identity is not revealed…
However, lying to yourself is the worst thing you can do…. …it’s terrible. It is HELL.
ARE YOU HAPPY LIVING IN HELL?
3. To run away from reality …wearing mask make you forget reality IN A MOMENT.
TRUTH OF MASK IT IS A BIG LIE -Not the truth of our self. -Brings confusion.
2. BURDENSOME -Keeping up with expectations. -Chained, not free.
3. GOOD NEWS -Masks are TEMPORARY.
SELF AFFIRMATION ACCEPT YOURSELF -Accept who you are. - Know your personality -Know your strength and weaknesses
2. FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS, NOT YOUR WEAKNESSES. -Making your weaknesses a problem IS THE PROBLEM. -Focusing on your strength, makes you overcome your weaknesses. -Giving all your energy on your weaknesses will make you more exhausted and frustrated.
3. GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT -In times of success reward yourself.
4. KNOW YOUR GOALS AND SET YOUR PRIORITIES. -What are your Goals? -What are your priorities?
5. REACH OUT -Share what you got.
DEEPENING ACTIVITY MATERIALS -pen -paper INSTRUCTIONS -fold the paper into four folds -write capital letter I on the intersection of the folds. -write your priorities on the fold’s space. -after writing your priorities, do the first step and detach the letter. -the facilitator will ask the group to crumple and throw their priorities at the center. GUIDE QUESTIONS -are you willing to give up your priorities? -can you live without those priorities? COROLLARIES -my priorities are not myself. -I should prioritize knowing myself first before knowing others. -nemo cud non habet- I can’t give what I don’t have. -I am not obligated to conform to others system at the expense of myself.
Encountering others…
I. Man as being-in-the-world -since birth we relate to others. -no man is an island; man is always part of a community.
As we go on with our journey we encounter and even journey with people. …thus, the way we deal with them matters a lot… …kung kasama mo siya sa pupuntahan mo eh mas mabuting kaibiganin mo na siya.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS CHECK ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS -do I treat them the way they should be treated?
II. Recognizing the face of the other -the face reveals the personhood of the other. -one way of recognizing the other is understanding the opposite sex.
Some Differences of Man and Woman Men More logical -men value power and achievement. 2. Less emotional -men don’t show their emotions publicly. 3.Tend to be loners and often prefer to keep things to themselves 4. Direct to the point 5. Less religious 6. Less patience Women More emotional -women value love, communication, relationships and beauty. 2. More emotional, sympathetic and caring 3. Want company and would like to talk 4. Tend to beat around the bush 5. More religious 6. More patience
How Now After Knowing Our Differences Listen with Love -Real hearing begins when someone loves enough to want to hear and takes time to listen with the ears of his heart. 2. Tolerance -Full-hearted acceptance of other members as they are. 3. Support -Sharing in practice 4. Acceptance -Accept each other as you are, just as Jesus accepted you.
-Understanding our differences is an avenue for us to love. CONCLUSION -Understanding our differences is an avenue for us to love. “Success or failure of relationships we have is determined by one thing- how much love is in that relationship”
Deepening Activity MATERIALS -masking tape -coupon bond -pen INSTRUCTIONS -attach tape to the coupon bond and roam around and your classmates will write the things they know about you. COROLLARIES -there are things that others know about me but I do not know. -others can help me discover my personality. -others can help me to change.
Encountering God…
Invite the Lord -through prayer and meditation.
Openness to receive God’s word -read the scriptures -eat the scrolls “Do not expect God to make himself known to you in the ways that you want or enjoy”
Openness to God’s plan in our state of life -discovering and conforming our self to the plan of God.
DEEPENING ACTIVITY -watch interview with God and father’s love letter -make their own love letter to god.
-Passing of candle-