A TIME OF DISCOVERY
2013-01-31

Recently, Mrs. Colette Dupont, an Associate, conducted a meeting on the theme: Change the way you look at yourself and the world will change.

At the beginning of the meeting those present were asked to write, on a heart, their first name received at Baptism. They then shared with another person the realization that being an Associate comes from the desire to profoundly live their Baptismal vows. To further interiorize this stage of the meeting, a short meditation followed, entitled: "You are my own dear Son, my own dear daughter. I am pleased with you". (Mark 1, 11) The purpose of this brief exercise was to be honest with self. It was to be face to face with self. It was to look into the mirror and ask oneself what comments do I usually and instinctively make to myself.

After about ten minutes of silence with self, groups of two were formed to share on this moment of honesty. How do I see myself? Can I love myself as I love my child or as I love another person dear to me? Do I love myself enough to avoid destructive attitudes such as eating in excess, being a workaholic? Do I love myself enough to avoid harming my health or my life? Am I able to find a dozen qualities of myself? Do I much more easily find my faults?  What does this Word of God mean to me: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself"? (Mt. 22, 39) To honestly love oneself is a grace to pray for, because it is not something we can do by ourselves... do we realize that?

The third part of the session was to imagine meeting with Jesus to hear Him tell me what qualities he sees in me. Listening to a beautiful text: "the day I accepted to love myself honestly", the group watched a video entitled: "Admiration that creates, and admiration of faith". To end the session the participants were invited to dance freely to the song of the psalm of creation