Tuesday: A Process of Contemplative Listening

Nancy Sylvester, IHM addressed the Chapter on Tuesday. Weaving the Transa poem into her presentation, she guided us through a process of contemplative listening. "Transitions. Crossing Overs. Trasna. The Crossing Place. Consciousness Waking," she said. "I suggest they are describing the same reality, and the choice to cross over is the choice to become the holy rising in our midst. That is our challenge, the challenge of all of us who have come to this new consciousness at this point in our history."

Nancy shared her belief that women religious are uniquely positioned to approach this crossing place for two reasons.

1. The compressed time frame in which we have shifted our awareness from pre-modernity to modernity to post-modernity – all in the last 40 to 50 years.
2. Our capacity to move forward from a contemplative space.

She noted that we as a Congregation have spent time discussing and reflecting on how we want to live from a Well of Integrity these past six years. She believes that it is crucial to live out of the contemplative stance if we are to move forward and cross over.

"In the poem," she said, " we are asked: 'Why go on? Is life not short enough? Why seek to pierce its mystery? Why venture further on strange paths risking all? Why be a pilgrim still?' The only answers that make sense come from the well of integrity – from a contemplative heart."

In the late morning and afternoon sessions, Nancy invited us to enter into a contemplative listening process. She prefaced this portion of the day by suggesting that we practice spaciousness and hospitality. "Take in and make welcome that which you find unpleasant or uncomfortable," she said. "Stay with it, be spacious with it, welcome it because it's going to tell you a lot about yourself."

She guided us through a personal reflection on the following question: "When I imagine the possibility of becoming a Congregation-without-provinces I feel …" She likened this heart-focused process to taking a geological core sample, going deeper and deeper with the same question. We anonymously recorded our responses on pieces of paper which were taped to the wall of our meeting space.

Nancy then guided us through a group listening and inquiry process focused on the question of becoming a Congregation-without-provinces. "It's not about whether you want to do it or not do it," she cautioned us. "The question before you now is how you feel about it."

Many of those present were filled with gratitude for the open manner in which participants shared their feelings. "We learned that there was a span and intensity of feelings," said Mary Thorne, CSJP. "Overall we appreciated everyone's honesty and the process."

Nancy closed by sharing her belief that "out of your Well of Integrity, you will 'see' in new ways how to enter the River of Peace and, trusting together, you will have the light you need for your first step."

To learn more about Nancy and her work with Engaging Impasse: Circles of Contemplation and Dialogue, visit their website.