Reflection Day 2: Renewing the Sacred Balance
Schedule: (Times are arbitrary. Please feel free to change
as needed)
9:00 Opening prayer (see prayer attached below)
9:20 Video ("The Lorax", or make your choice from one of David
Suzuki's series on the environment)
10:10 Discussion about the concepts and how they relate to the
magazine articles: how can we renew the Sacred Balance?
10:40 Nutrition break
11:00 Quiet time 1
Group is instructed to walk outdoors for half an hour.
Each person should walk alone and in silence. Ask them
to identify some item from nature that symbolizes for
them the fragility/wonder of nature.
11:30 Take about 10 minutes to write about the walk, the
silence, and the symbolism of the item chosen.
Group discussion: What would the Earth be like without
the item each person has chosen?
What would be missed?
12:00 Lunch
1:00 P.M. Using the magazines, divide the large group
into six smaller groups. Each group should choose
one faith tradition to read about how this tradition
regards the Earth.
* In each group, discuss the concepts and compare how
Christians view the Earth.
* How are the concepts the same? How are they different?
Make a list of the similarities and differences.
* Have each group report to the whole.
* Discuss: How do these faith traditions contribute to
restoring the Sacred Balance?
2:15 Nutrition break
2:40 Quiet time 2
Each person should find a quiet place to sit. After
listening and observing nature for 20 minutes, each
person should write a prayer that includes both a
Christian view and the other faith traditions'
view of the Earth in restoring the Sacred Balance.
3:10 Closing prayer
Prayer circle: Group should sit in a circle. Share
the prayers for restoring the Sacred Balance.
