Today we held a sondage for leadership in the central government. Tomorrow we enter into a retreat guided by Fr. José Cristo Rey García to help us listen at a profound level to the movement of God in our midst. The election process is scheduled to commence on Wednesday morning.
The balance of our day honed in on the seven pathways and their component parts:
“We recognize . . .”
“We are called to . . .”
“We are committed to . . .”
Following discussion on the intention of each pathway, considering amendments, revisions and so on, we voted on each of the commitments that, we hope, lead us to transforming action. Challenge 1: moving around the digital platform in a paperless Chapter means you sync or swim in this dynamic process.
Today I recalled that for a couple of months in the first year of the pandemic I stayed with my sister’s family in the Colorado mountains. It happened that there was a pathway that led down the ridge. It needed some work after the winter snows had melted: branches needed removing, rocks needed moving, borders needed re-trimming. It was fairly steep with limited traction at 8200 feet. Nothing can be done quickly in that situation, so one-thing-at-a-time was my mantra, one that will serve us well here.
Challenge 2: capturing the spirit in words that don’t ‘quench that spirit.’ Challenge 3: meeting in the middle when the starting points are very different. For many, the point of departure is to understand the theoretical concept before applying it to the practical situation. For the rest, the starting point is the practical. The plenary session is a case study in “principles-first” reasoners talking to “applications-first” thinkers, in those who yearn to clarify the why in dialogue with those who yearn to clarify the how.
So, it’s one thing at a time here as we build pathways for educational settings and community encounters that will feed moral imagination that will grow into social courage.
Brother Timothy Coldwell, FSC, is General Councilor for the Lasallian Region of North America. He is providing reflections throughout the 46th General Chapter, which are being shared on Lasallian.info and on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the General Chapter here and from the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Search #FSC46GC on social media for more highlights. Visit the General Councilor’s page for more reflections from Brother Tim >
Photo courtesy Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Communications Service