Chatting about: part 2 Gaudete Exsultate and Salesian Spirituality

Ruth (Guest): Hi everyone. Sorry I’m late. A friend who usually calls shortly after our chat called before tonight. Checking on me after the long drive.

Ruth (Guest): You saw it too, Dawn?

Ruth (Guest): Neither did I, but we used to hold retreats for high school students called “Encounters” instead of “retreats.“

Ruth (Guest): Thank you. It felt like a long, long drive, but luckily the light rainy weather was OK for driving; today we had about 7 inches of snow and it is still snowing. Getting home from church driving was slow and sloppy even after the snowplows had come through.

Ruth (Guest): It was already full bloom in Westchester. –– Spring, that is.

Ruth (Guest): I just checked YouTube for “Encounter.“ There are four movies there with that title.

Ruth (Guest): Right thinking is important. But clobbering people with the truth is not loving, and we are called to lead people to the Truth lovingly.

Ruth (Guest): I heard only a bit on the radio while driving about a way to lead people to the truth (pro life vs “pro choice” discussion) by getting them to clarify their views, what the MEAN by each of the terms they use.

Ruth (Guest): It is, I think, a way of listening specific to the topic.

Ruth (Guest): In psychotherapy, too, it is often just letting people talk and reflecting back to them what you hear them saying, perhaps with a question, that often helps.

Ruth (Guest): I think I have trouble just listening when it is on the telephone; I think I do OK in person face-to-face.

Ruth (Guest): Pets generally do not interrupt people or have an agenda. We had a cat in one clinic. Patients who might not talk to their therapist or doctor would sit in the waiting room talking at length to the cat.

Ruth (Guest): And loving others, especially those who are very different from ourselves, involves non-judgmental listening.

Ruth (Guest): And be sure to ask God what he wants us to do.

Ruth (Guest): Thanks for the tip about Same Kind of Different as me. It too, I see, is available through YouTube. Full length. I was not familiar with either of them.

Ruth (Guest): Yes, thinking about “DeSales calls all disciples to love their abjections, those areas of personal weakness from which failure ensues.“ So difficult!

Ruth (Guest): Brian –– your ministry is so important –– to the prisoners, but it has also helped you grow in holiness. God bless you and yours.

Ruth (Guest): Thank you sister, especially for the loving service of preparing these chats.

Ruth (Guest): Still have to/want to read last week’s chat. Does anyone know about our absent chat companions?

Ruth (Guest): Have a good week Dawn. I enjoyed my visit but I’m glad to be home again. PEACE TO YOU, AND JOY IN THE LORD!