Meeting 3. - “CONSEQUENCES!!!” or simply “Consequences”?¶
Meeting Goal¶
Lead to the desire for the consequences of one’s own decisions in full responsibility for making them. See where uncertainty is born. Touching the good consequences of one’s own choices.
Prayer¶
Adapted to the group’s capabilities.
Introduction¶
Yesterday we spoke with such joy – we want to make decisions, we want to decide! Today we started talking about the consequences of choices. On the one hand, thanks to choosing we can “make valuable” something on this earth, on the other… exactly – we expose ourselves to losses, ridicule, failure.
A classic example here is making decisions e.g. in politics. It is much easier not to have to decide on important reforms of the country, allow others to do it, and sit yourself in a comfortable position of criticism. To decide you need courage to face the consequences.
Did you ever have to face “unpleasantness” caused by the fact that you made a decision, when you could have “just as well” ignored the whole matter and not got involved? (and then you would be “cool”)
Do you have such decisions in life, of the way of making which you are so sure that you are not afraid of any criticism, because You know that then it was the best move?
Certainty, uncertainty¶
We will probably agree that such decisions in our life are rather fewer than more. Normally uncertainty accompanies us more or less, but constantly. We can always ask ourselves this question: “and what if however…?” and start the analysis of the situation anew. Uncertainty is sometimes unbearable, we have had enough of it, we try to eliminate it at all costs.
What type of decisions cause the greatest doubts? How do I cope (react to them) with these matters?
Do I know the experience of “increasing uncertainty” after the choice has already been made?
Why does this uncertainty appear not only during the choice itself, but “drags” after us later? Because consequences are approaching. The closer to the consequences, the greater the uncertainty. It is so because of the fragment of the Gospel perfectly known to us – “by their fruits you will know them”, so it is also with our decisions. The upcoming consequences are a “moment of trial” whether we did something well or badly. A normal mechanism is therefore anxiety.
In what way do you associate the word consequences? (“remember about the consequences”, “be consistent”, “you will have to bear the consequences for the rest of your life” etc.).
In such an understanding consequences are an “unpleasant test”, a “threatening perspective of exposing our errors”, a “warning appealing to reason” etc. No wonder then that we overuse the phrase which is an escape from consequences:
“what will be will be”
What does such a phrase mean?
Do you see in it the humility of the speaker who recognizes dependence on something/someone greater or rather a man who does not believe that he can influence the fate of the world?
Such a phrase does not have much in common with Christianity. God does not want us to live in the world and humbly adapt to what “fate” brings and the better we do it the more God rejoices. On the contrary, maybe it is worth recalling these fragments:
Let’s read:
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
—Gen 1:27-28
For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
—Mt 25:14-30.
Why did the servant who buried the talent turn out to be a bad servant?
(because he did not make a decision, but ran away from it – he did not want to risk and “deal with” capital turnover and chose avoidance)
A Christian does not say “what will be will be”, but enters the world and with his decisions takes responsibility for what will be! This is our duty given to us by God already in the book of Genesis.
How do you understand the words “Jesus Christ is my Lord” then?
Note
catch and discuss the “oasis slogan” – “God has shown me more than once that He is the Lord of my life and I with my decisions can…”. This sentence is spoken with the best intention, but in fact it bends to the other side and can be understood as a kind of incapacitation!)
Consequences – the other side of the coin¶
On the one hand, therefore, consequences appear to us as something “threatening”, on the other hand we are called to cause them. Consequences are not a “curse”, but a gift thanks to which we can build something on earth (because I can change something!). The effects of decisions are a real force and power to change the world. A poem known perhaps to some of you from Dead Poets Society comes to mind here:
(…) Answer.That you are here—that life exists and identity,That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.—W. Whitman
Have you ever thought before making a decision that its consequences are your added verse?
Do you look at consequences like this? As at something good that gives You possibilities?
Can you list the consequences of your choices of which you are proud?
Note
this question is also a purely psychological challenge – a test whether we can see small good things in our life and relate them to “great matters and contents”. Animators have the duty to guide participants to find something like that. This is an important goal of the meeting.
Consequences are a strong matter that can terrify, but also gives a horizon of possibilities.
Consistency – life attitude¶
In addition to the consequences of choices, we can talk about consistency as a life attitude. This word again has a positive connotation. “To be a consistent person” – sounds great and everyone would like to hear it addressed to them.
How does a consistent attitude relate to the consequences of choices?
A consistent attitude takes seriously the effects of its earlier choices, and does not treat them as “current only at the time of making them”.
Consistency (as an attitude) is the next stage testifying to maturity. When already:
we responsibly and reliably search and find (Advent retreat)
we have several possibilities before us and make a thoughtful decision based on many premises (current retreat)
then we do not throw all this that we so carefully reached into oblivion after 3 days, only try to keep this good as long as possible
Do we know how to be consistent?
Do we have the experience that when a decision is well prepared in points 1 and 2, then persisting in it consistently does not come later with such difficulty?
Warning
Animator: this is the moment for Your testimony of the decision to persist in the Church of Christ as a servant after many years of preparation and discernment! We are not talking about metaphysics here, but about what each of us knows perfectly well. They are waiting for this.
Summary¶
Making decisions, taking their consequences upon oneself is the everyday life of an adult. A Christian not only does not run away from this, it is also the realization of his vocation and the possibility of sanctifying his life. I am responsible for my every deed and word and their consequences are unforeseeable for me (butterfly effect). When I realize all this, I should lock myself in my room and be afraid to influence the world in any way. As a believer, however, I know that my decisions are not indifferent to God and he blesses them and leads. When I read these words of the outline now, I trust that God will not allow anyone to suffer loss in their soul because of this, because I started this meeting with the sign of the Cross. This is what faith gives me, that’s why I will not withdraw from the world! – on the contrary - like no one else I have predispositions to enter it and transform it. I cannot waste such a great potential good that someone entrusted to me.
Note
as an animator you will know best how to present this to the group. So make a good decision and I already thank God for its good consequences.