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Foreword
Tracking the Spirit
Preparing
for Christian Life Community
You are about to begin a year preparing for Christian Life
Community (CLC). We call it Tracking the Spirit.
The purpose of this year is:
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To familiarize you with the process and spirit of CLC, and
·
To discern at the end of this process if you wish to join
CLC.
Energizing this quest is the spirit of grace. There is no
judgment as to whether your experiences are good or bad. There is
no one way to love and serve God; each person must discover her
own path. That is the hope for this year, that each of you, with
the support of each other, discover your own spiritual process and
whether CLC builds upon it.
Even though there is really only one biblical spirituality,
the spirituality of Jesus, each person nevertheless brings her own
style to it. Some may wish to follow Jesus within an intentional
community, such as CLC. Others may experience their spirituality
more naturally within prayer. Still others may find it most
vividly in nature.
Whatever the path, what is important is that each one find the
way of loving and serving God that is most natural. The work in
all of this is to discern the invitation of God’s Spirit of love
and freedom, whether it be within CLC or in some other way. It is
for each to support each other in this quest. Coming to recognize
God’s hand in one’s life is a wonderful adventure.
This calls for courage in that some in your group may decide
that CLC is not for them and choose to leave the group. The spirit
of grace calls everyone to support them in their decision and
encourage them to pursue some other path. A sense of personal loss
is natural and to be embraced. The primary issue in all spiritual
pursuit is to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy
Spirit.
How do you know if you wish to join Christian Life Community?
If you want to.
Important indicators are if you find that CLC builds upon your
personal spirituality, if you have been faithful in attending the
meetings, and if you have a regular prayer practice.
A word about Christian Life Community. CLC is a world
community of Christian women and men who meet in local communities
to be Christ in the world. They meet twice a month, as you will be
doing, and use the same style of meetings as in this booklet.
Their focus is to discern through their shared experience how they
feel moved to be Christ for others, especially in the ordinary
routine of their daily lives. CLC does not prescribe for anyone
how to do this. Rather it assists them in searching out and
responding to how God’s Spirit is moving them, as revealed through
what interests and attracts them – where their energies lie.
CLC will be available to assist you as you work your way
through Tracking the Spirit. From guided
retreats to visits to phone calls and letters, members of CLC will
be ready to help. You are most welcome to contact me at any time,
whenever you feel the need.
Let us hold each other in prayer as we seek to love and serve
God in all things. God bless you on your journey.
Larry Gooley, SJ
Assistant to Christian Life Community
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