We talked about the God we worship and how the Universe is a machine for the making of Gods. We didn't get a chance to watch a couple of videos that show God's handiwork as well as possibly what Moses saw. The first video is about 6 minutes and the second one about 4 minutes.
A Personal Story About Journals
A while back, on a Tuesday morning, one of my kids was feeling a little blue and didn't want to go back to school. I sat down with them and talked about how life has it's ups and downs. We know the downs won't last long and they help us appreciate the ups and the good times. I had them to tell me their worries and then we talked a bit about how to deal with those worries (we developed a plan). They felt better. Then we decided to spend some time each night writing in our Stoic journals.
Our main focus is determining a few things.
1) What is it that I'm worried about?
2) Is it in my control or out of my control?
3) If it is in my control, I develop a plan to address it
4) If it is out of my control, then the one thing I still have control over is my attitude
5) I need to develop a plan to have a good attitude about the thing out of my control
Tell kids about our journals and how they are useful.
The Two Great Commandments
What are the two great commandments? (love God, love neighbor). Matthew 22:35-40
Relate how the love of God is extremely similar to the Stoic concept of the Discipline of Desire or loving your fate. We should love whatever God sends our way. We should observe blessings and trails and do our best to learn from them.
When we are grateful, we are observing the blessings God sends us.
When we truly love God and trust his will for us, we love the trails and challenges he sends us.
Trust in the will of God 1 John 5:14
Share how the hardest part for me to comprehend is how people can be so mean to other people … concentration camps. But remember how Viktor Frankl reacted. It was out of his control, he loved the fate sent his way and he changed the attitude he had - even in that awful, horrible situation.
Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.
I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.
Challenges and trials can be seen as God "prescribing" something for us. Much like a doctor might unmask an illness in us and she prescribes something for us to get better. Sometimes, that "prescription" is not something enjoyable, but if we take it, we will be better and stronger.
"What does not kill you, makes you stronger."
Remembering is being mindful
Have them read the talk and then share what they learned from "O Remember, Remember"
Did God send you a message this week?
Did you see God's hand in your life this week?
How will be find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness?
Activity - have class write on chalkboard what they are thankful for.
Or give them time to write some thoughts down in a journal.
Related Gospel Topic Essays
Gratitude
Adversity
Stoic Links
Discipline of Desire (Epictetus)
Discipline of Desire (Path of Prokopton)
Amor Fati (Full Scream)
