Activity 5: Recalling Our Experiences of Nature (30 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Paper for drawing or writing for all participants
- Drawing and writing implements, such as pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons
- Bell
- Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds
- Optional: Cordless microphone
Description of Activity
This activity directly follows Activity 4: Story — from a Private History of Awe. Invite participants to sit comfortably. Introduce a time of quiet reflection with these or similar words:Sometimes we witness something like a lightning strike or a lone, wild bird or some other event in nature that stays with us long after the moment has passed. In the quiet that follows, I invite you to recall significant experiences have you had in relation to the natural world. Choose one of these experiences for further reflection and sharing. Remember how you felt, and consider the influence the experience had on you.
A bell will lead you in and out of the quiet.
Ring the bell. Allow two or three minutes for quiet reflection. Then ring the bell again.
Indicate or distribute the materials for writing and/or drawing about the experience and their reflections. Encourage participants who may be shy about drawing to use their non-dominant hands; tell them that using one's non-dominant hand can reduce self-consciousness and facilitate expressiveness.
Ring the bell to begin the time for writing and drawing. After three to five minutes ring the bell again to end the time.
Invite participants to find a partner, preferably someone with whom they have not spent time before. If you have an odd number of participants, create a triad.
Instruct the pairs:
You will take turns sharing about your significant experiences of the natural world. While one of you shares, the other listens attentively. After the first speaker finishes, let there be a moment of silence between you. Then switch roles. These are moments of precious sharing and confiding and we offer one another our mutual trust and regard.
Each person will have three minutes to speak without interruption. A bell will ring when it is time to switch speaker and listener and again to end the time of sharing.
Ring the bell at three minutes and at six minutes. If you have a triad, watch the time carefully, and remind these participants verbally to switch roles at each two-minute interval.
Regather the whole group for discussion with these questions:
- Was it easy or hard for you to recall powerful experiences of the natural world? Why?
- What did it feel like to recall these powerful moments?
- How do you think these moments have affected you spiritually?
- How do you relate your understandings of the natural world to your spirituality?
- How do you relate your understandings of the natural world with your religious values or beliefs?
- Our natural world is hurting so badly as environmental degradation continues. How do you think our spiritual connections with the Earth can help us work to save it?
Including All Participants
During the whole group discussion, you may wish to pass a cordless microphone to help all participants hear one another.Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
