[Dialogue] The Profound Journey Dialog - a recommendation

[Janice Ulangca]

>From Janice Ulangca

Many on this list serv have experienced a weekend program called Religious Studies One (RS1).  If you are one of them, I have some questions for you.

Have you ever thought that it would be good to have a secular version - meaning open to everyone, regardless of their relationship to "religion" - if it could be as powerful as what you experienced?  Do you know people - community colleagues, children, grandchildren - who you would like to have such an experience?

Last weekend I attended a 28 hour event called a Profound Journey Dialog  (PJD).  I took a chance and invited two of my favorite colleagues, both seasoned activists, in the middle of some of the best faith and justice work in this area.  I think they came because they were both ready for a weekend away!  Neither knew anything about the Ecumenical Institute or the O:E, and had heard only occasional bits about ICA. I want to share with you what I thought about the event, and what they said.

Is this the same as RS1?  No and yes.  

No -  the differences are more than in the "secular" (universal) language.  The small group work, especially,  owes depth to ICA and ToP-developed methods that were not known yet in the 60s..  No - the overall thrust was not to recruit people for a "movement" - which seemed to be the imperative in the early 70s.  Instead I experienced a powerful and very current reflection on where my life is today, and where it might go from exactly where I am.  Of course that is more than individual - it relates to issues critical for the future.  But I am beckoned by plenty of issue-groups these days - many of which are doing effective work. Where does my life - powered by my decisions - fit into what most needs to be done?  The Profound Journey Dialog was a great reflective opportunity.

Yes - the life dynamics - and the symbols -  of four sections of RS1 are there - come to life in a new way at this time of new crises, new movemental stirrings, and the hope in new national leadership. I see myself and those who care that I work with, feeling overwhelmed by information and choices of good things that call for our lives.  Dialoging again with these life dynamics is really helpful.

What did my friends say?  Here are notes I took on our conversation while they drove home.
  -- It's about - How do I decide what I'm going to spend my life for?
  --  It gave language to talk about the dynamics of my life.
  --  Helps you Review, Renew, Refresh.
  --  The quotes were wonderful.  I remember the Camus re not 
       missing the grandeur of this life.
  --  I looked at my life experiences through different eyes.
  --  You leave with a new sense of empowerment.
  --  This reflection on my life choices is very helpful as I am planning 
       my future.
  --  It made the connection between your own life of meaning and 
      how you can affect the larger world.

John and Lynda Cock have been working on this construct for years.  Doug Druckenmiller has made major contributions to the current "beta" form.  Others have helped, and will be helping.  I feel deep gratitude to all of them.  I want to help as needed, because I feel this event is a profound gift to the future from  the EI-ICA-O:E heritage.

If you are interested, you can experience a Profound Journey Dialog in Chicago April 24-25 at the ICA-USA conference center (the "Kemper Building").  Plan to participate in the Sunday morning reflection/fine tuning/future planning.  Here are links to information on the April event, and a report from the event I experienced last weekend.

Janice


The Report:
http://www.transcribebooks.com/NEPJDReport309.html

plus information about Chicago PJD, April 24-25, ICA-USA Conference Center

http://www.transcribebooks.com/ChicagoPJDflyer2009.html



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