Saturday, May 2, 2015

JCD’s on a Geneva Journey: Rumination #5

Today was the last day of our ecumenical officers’ meeting at Geneva. A very busy day that started in the Bossey chapel where we worshiped together, it concluded with an evaluation session; evaluation of the week’s involvement and our own engagement in the varied aspects of the experience together.

Evaluation as normally conducted revolves around questions and responses. Not questions and answers, questions and responses; so the questions came. I was caught, more correctly challenged as I listened to the response of one of the delegates from Asia. The question itself was not the challenge, it was the way he made his opening comments of response.

The question’s request, “tell us one thing you have learned that you will now do differently.”

Our colleague said; “I have learned not to pack everything I’m carrying into my checked baggage.” 

We laughed knowingly . . . knowing his baggage had arrived 24 hours after he had. Then I heard my ruminator starting up, and saying—"JCD, don’t laugh; reflect on that statement—hear it as a word for considering . . . "

I could picture our evaluation as a “packing session”, packing the meetings’ content, experiences, equippings, learnings, and resources. Packing it all to take it home . . . take it or ship it?

So, while I have listed my range of change-ideas on paper, I’ve two not “packed in my checked baggage” – ones for ruminating on the journey home . . .
  • What are they?
  • Do you want to know?
Write me an email in 7 days, and I will gladly let you know in two paragraphs . . .