Men as Mentors - Richard Rohr and Sergio Milandri - Part 8

Start with three minutes of silence or a piece of meditative music.

Part 8 Pioneer, Creator, Developer, Establisher, Founder, Organiser, Explorer, Innovator, Leader, Pace-Setter, Adventurer, Pilgrim, Scout Supporter, Trail Blazer, Risk taker, Voyager, Immigrant, Settler, Colonist, Squatter, Traveler.

Which are you? Which are you called to be? Your life is not your own nor is it only about you. In ten years you will no longer be doing what takes most of your time now. If you are you will have missed a serious call on your life and you will be overseeing the death of your little world. Only you have the keys, only you have the piece needed to bring life to your part of our world.

"Leave all and follow me." We are each challenged to "leave all" our comforting knowns and to follow and to take our rightful place as a proponent and co-worker of the One who sustains all we know and love.

In the first half of our lives we learn to play the scales and practice the pieces of the music of life. This is the practice, the preliminary stage. In the second half we leave the things of "a child", take up our assignment and put all of ourselves into carrying it out. This is the real thing, the reason for our existence. It is here that we have a significant and necessary contribution to make.

Rohr rightly describes John the Baptist as the pioneer of a new era. And it is this same pioneer who tells us to build new highways for the Lord, for Life. Highways are about access, about availability, about attainability and this is what we need to be about - new connections, new possibilities, new realities. We have seen life now and we know too much. We know that there are no ready-made answers and that those that there are are pretty thin. We know that they don’t fit many of the real questions of life. We know too that no one else can do it. We are it. G. K. Chesterton answered a newspaper editorial asking, 'What is the matter with the world?' with the short response, 'I Am!' Without arrogance but with much humility we need to answer the question "What is the solution for the world?" with the short response, "I am."

It will not be easy, nor will it be quick. We will not likely be hailed as heroes; John had his head cut off for sticking his neck out. But our lives will become meaningless if we do not engage. This is the time and the task that everything of significance in our life has been preparing us for.

Reflection without journalling (10 minutes)
Of all the voices going off inside you now, what are the disturbing ones saying?
Compare this with the ones calling you towards comfort and security.

Journal; 10 minutes
1. What objections jump out?
2. What questions come up for you?
3. What feelings are strongest?
4. Can you say, 'Yes;'without knowing which is the way forward?

Connecting with each other in the group.
Share around the circle something of what you are feeling about this.

This week. Reflect on your options in the years to come.Read chapter 9 of Richard Rohr’s “From Wild Man to Wise Man”