In this graphic we see represented the different activities of our workshop. The workshop followed the Theory U methodology
for transformative change; it was adapted to an African religious context,
especially to MSOLA’s needs and goals.
We had two preparatory activities previous to
our workshop. The first one consisted in a questionnaire inviting the
participants to explore different dimensions of MSOLA’s life. The questions
were strategically chosen to prepare them to enter into the mindset needed to
take "the road less travelled" as presented by the Theory U.
The second step was also intentional: to help
the participants to look at MSOLA in an appreciative eye. They were invited to contact
another MSOLA member and to do an appreciative interview. This activity helped
the participants to strengthen a positive attitude towards MSOLA, discovering
the human quality of this family. The report of both exercises can be found in
different section of this blog.
And it is with this positive and life-giving mindset
that we began our U journey. We started the workshop with an intentional and
inspirational biblical text: the baptism and the temptations of Jesus (Matthew 3,13
- 4,11) We are the beloved children of God. The participants were invited to
deepen into this identity as they face the different temptations present during
the U Journey (specially the voices of judgment, cynicism, and fear).
At this stage, Pope Francis attitudes
(courageous, spontaneous, prophetic, flexible, compassionate...) were presented
as inspirational to the participants.
Then, the sisters took time to reflect and
share about the strengths and blessings of MSOLA. Finally, they concluded this
first stage (co-initiation) agreeing upon a common intent. The orientation so
far was to build a sense of common identity based in their blessings and
strengths.
The first day concluded with the first activity
within the co-sensing stage: Empathy walk. In this exercise the sisters were
asked to share a life giving experience in their current life within MSOLA. It
was important to do the exercise with a sister who was less known to her, the
purpose was to strengthen relationships within the group. Awareness of
different levels of listening was explored. The goal was to develop an empathic
skill.
The second day in the morning began with the
first video of HUMAN. The witnesses of humanity in this video were presented as
Living Icons of today’s humanity. It is in our deepest humanity that we find
our divinity. The downward movement of the U is a journey towards our humanity.
After watching and listening in a contemplative way the participants shared
from deep within how they were touched.
The next activity was a collective drawing
about women struggle for liberation. The exercise was done in silence, each one
began with her own piece of art, as they move on, gradually they interrelated
their drawings. Then they exchange information about the meaning of the
collective drawing in a non-verbal way; finally they could share with words.
This exercise helped in the process of co-sensing, exploring their
relationships in non-conventional ways.
The next activity was a case clinic. Here they
did the U journey in a single exercise. Each group chose a case giver and a
time-keeper. Each case giver share about a challenging leadership issue she is
going through. The group participants listened empathically and they give a
feedback through images, gestures and feelings. The goal was to enter into
generative conversations.
From there, the next morning, we explored the
co-sensing stage beginning by our own bodies. We cannot listen each other, if
we do not listen to our bodies first. A brief talk about trauma was given.
Then, the participants were introduced to Trauma Releasing Exercises, through
these exercises they were invited to witness as Beloved ones, transcending the
downloading state, suspending the mind and sensing the story of their bodies
with compassion. This exercise was done in a very introductory way. The
experience was enlightening as far as getting in touch with one’s reality is
concerned. To give quality time for debriefing all the activities was taken as
a priority. Through this deep sharing the participants kept building group
awareness.
The last activity of the co-sensing stage was a
creative one. The attention was brought to the different enemies as presented
by this methodology: the inner voices of judgment, cynicism, and fear. Each
sister chose one of these enemies and drew a mask of it. Then, an exploration
took place by giving room to each voice in the worst meeting among them they
could have imagined. The last step was to laugh at each voice and dance, as
they exercise a sense of humor. Healthy humor is considered a sign of healing.
After debriefing this last exercise, they went into the next stage in the U
Journey: presenting.
This was the time where openness to God’s
revelation was required. The metamorphosis happening in a
caterpillar-cocoon-butterfly was embodied and processed by the participants.
Parallels to the U process were explored. Images and lessons from nature were
presented through the workshop. Nature gives many examples were we could be
inspired about our greatest potential: we are light; perhaps this is our
greatest fear.
Fourth day in the morning began with a sacred
dance. The goal was to place the participants in a state of awareness where
newness could be revealed to the group. They went through a guided journaling.
A priority at this stage was to discover which image was revealed as a guided
principle for the future of MSOLA. The image of a tree, and specifically a
Baobab tree, was agreed upon as revealed to many of them. Then, they began to
explore how this image could crystalize in the here and now of the workshop.
The participants were most motivated as they identify the life-giving qualities
of this tree. They also acknowledge how the wisdom carried by the Baobab tree
challenge them at this stage of their vocational journey. They also identified
qualities of the baobab tree already present in their lives. This sharing,
within the co-creating stage, was foundational for the prototyping experience
explored the last day. But before introducing that last exercise, the figure of
Leymah Gbowee emerged as inspirational in the upward movement of the U. She
said: “the dream bearer is the dream carrier”. The participants were encouraged
so see how they can be the dream carriers, meaning in which way the baobab
energy can transform the present and future of their lives and MSOLA life. The
invitation was to see how the baobab energy could make them to be more
prophetic, and oriented toward the margins of today’s African world.
We began last day’s morning by doing an
exercise of embodiment. Each group was asked to do a collective body sculpture "incarnating" a baobab tree. Again this was done in silence as they explored
alternative ways of communication. This embodiment exercise added information
to the process of becoming familiar to the baobab energy. Then, we concluded the
morning engaging in a 4-D Mapping exercise. This exercise was taken as a
prototype where it was explored how the baobab energy could transform
conflictual situations in MSOLA ministry and community life.
The next stage in this U Journey is the
co-evolving one. The goal now is to see how the fruits of this workshop could transform and give life to MSOLA and the people they minister to. The
image of a “baobab seedling” and the “quality of soil” required to make the
seedling grow into a healthy robust baobab tree was presented. The “quality of
soil” is about the new personal, communitarian and pastoral choices required
for the baobab energy to shine in MSOLA’s members, communities and ministries.
Newness is on the way!
Yago Abeledo, M.Afr.
Facilitator
Facilitator
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