It was early in the coronavirus pandemic that I participated in a four-week group spiritual direction journey led by Diane Millis. Our group came together by Zoom to explore our life stories. Both the medium for coming together and the story-telling practice were new to many of us. But we came together, got to know each other, and we shared some deep and vulnerable life stories with each other. Each of us practiced holy listening for the other and we lovingly explored our stories together. Then, we gently held space for each other as we re-told our story after hearing the Spirit speak to us through our small group members.

In this short period of time, I came to deeply trust and care for each of the individuals in my small group. More importantly, I came to see my stories shift into healthier, more meaningful, and even more invigorating stories about God’s love for me. This experience changed me and forever deepened my relationship with God.

Today, I am inviting you to embark on such a journey. I have created the ‘Re-Telling Our Sacred Stories’ groups for people of all faiths and backgrounds.  Our stories are often both a powerful testament to our strength and resilience as well as a reminder of times in which we felt disappointment, betrayal, fear, and loneliness. By coming together in small groups of trusted ‘holy listeners,’ we experience the invitation of the Holy Spirit to be vulnerable and open with our stories. We invite others to share what they notice and appreciate about our stories. We listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Then, we reflect on what we have heard and we re-tell our story in a new way. This new story has the power to give us a new perspective on where we have been, where we are, and where the Spirit may be leading us.

Welcome to this journey.

Bradley Davidson, PhD | He, Him, His | Spiritual Director & Companion

SESSION 1

• • • • • • Entering into sacred time (meditation, silence, breath, prayer)
          • Introduction to a new way of story-telling, listening, and re-telling
          • Our contemplative conversations agreements
          • Introduction of focus question
          • Small group break-out (story-telling, listening, retelling)
          • Large group closing

SESSION 2

• • • • • • Entering into sacred time (meditation, silence, breath, prayer)
          • Introduction of focus question
          • Our ‘Growing Edges’
          • Small group break-out (story-telling, listening, retelling)
          • Large group closing

SESSION 3

• • • • • • Entering into sacred time (meditation, silence, breath, prayer)
          • Introduction of focus question
          • Visio Divina; noticing God in images and photographs
          • Small group break-out (story-telling, listening, retelling)
          • Large group closing

SESSION 4

• • • • • • Entering into sacred time (meditation, silence, breath, prayer)
          • Introduction of focus question
          • Small group break-out (story-telling, listening, retelling)
          • Large group closing