Meeting 1 — My Today, Great Today

Tags: Time, Truth, Decisions, Music work, Text work, Sharing questions, Formative

Goal

Reflection introducing into the topic and atmosphere of the retreat. Let’s try to answer questions: Can we look at our life with “own eyes”, in a personal way? What does my life look like “here and now”, at this moment? How do I perceive changes taking place in my life?

Prayer

Call to the Holy Spirit. Prayer of petition for openness to His action, opening of my eyes, thoughts and heart, wisdom of judgment.

Introduction

“[…] we need faith in the power of enchantments that can meet us, if only we are ready to submit to them. In the smallest moments, places well known to us, among those who have been with us for years…, the phenomenon of life, its taste is hidden. And everything is really decided not in politicians’ offices, but during the choice of a book, a film in the cinema or a television program. Everything is decided at the moment when we decide to visit the theater or philharmonic, when we plan a walk, vacation or evening with friends. These are the simplest, smallest and most everyday matters, but it is on these moments and on these simplest matters that most depends. And that is why we certainly do not live in worse times than others. On the contrary, we live in the most wonderful moment of our life, because it is our »now« and in it we can choose beauty, good and truth

—Jacek Kurek – In the most wonderful moment of our life. Thoughts about Silesia.

“My today”

Note

possibility to play the song. Each participant should have their own version of the text

Let’s read a certain poem:

My tomorrow why do I know
everything about it, although
it didn’t happen
let fate send good,
when it can’t afford a blow
though complexity
And meanwhile protects me
both from good and from evil
And has in offer for years
one novelty change of dates
My today, great today
must finally come
Suddenly stop in the door
and delight that it’s me
My today, great today
the most beautiful of all days
And so I wake up for years
to give it a new chance
Morning with coffee tête-à-tête
to give life a course
before it passes
As long as there is no anxiety
repertoire changes
in life’s cinema
Though luck rarely happens
better than marked cards
Although yesterday, tomorrow, today
notorious déjà vu
I believe that it will find me
from all days another day
My today, great today
must finally come
Suddenly stop in the door
and delight that it’s me
My today, great today

– Moje dziś (My today) – Basia Stępniak-Wilk

Let’s ask ourselves questions to this poem:

My tomorrow why do I know
everything about it, although
it didn’t happen

  • Do I know what will happen in my life tomorrow? To what extent does it depend on me?

  • Do I arrange life plans for myself, plans for the coming days, months?

  • Is the planned time a joy for me, or an overwhelm?

Let’s read the fragment:

let fate send good,
when it can’t afford a blow
though complexity

  • Can complications of plans be positive, developmental?

Let’s read:

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

—Mt 7:13-14

  • What can be the “narrow gate” in my life?

Let’s read the fragment:

And meanwhile protects me
both from good and from evil
And has in offer for years
one novelty change of dates

  • Am I open to life changes?

  • Am I very attached to “my life”, its stability, sense of security?

Let’s read the fragment:

My today, great today
must finally come
Suddenly stop in the door
and delight that it’s me
My today, great today
the most beautiful of all days
And so I wake up for years
to give it a new chance

  • What is this “my today, great today”?

  • What does it mean to live in the present?

  • What influence do the past and future have on my present? Is it dominated by them?

  • Am I reconciled with the past?

  • Does the thought of my future arouse fear in me?

  • What prevents me from looking “now”?

Let’s read the fragment:

Morning with coffee tête-à-tête
to give life a course
before it passes […]
Although yesterday, tomorrow, today
notorious déjà vu

  • What does it mean to “give life a course”?

  • What do I expect from life?

  • Do I feel that I live? Does monotony overwhelm me?

Let’s read the fragment:

I believe that it will find me
from all days another day
My today, great today
must finally come
Suddenly stop in the door
and delight that it’s me
My today, great today

  • “Being yourself” – what does it mean to me?

  • Do you have an experience of delight that “it’s You”?

Let’s read:

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

—Mt 5:13-16

  • What is “life authenticity” for me?

  • Is there openness in me to the time given to me, to the otherness of this time?

  • Is there openness in me to be found by Lord God, to hear His voice?

Summary and application

Joint prayer with the fragment:

O Lord, I have heard the report of thee,
and thy work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years renew it;
in the midst of the years make it known

—Hab 3:2ab