As a North Dakotan I appreciate that we have four very distinct seasons in a year. Sometimes we have six or eight very distinct seasons in a year and that’s another story!
For now, I share that in a very short span of time darkness has given way to longer days of intense sunlight, the haunting sound of snow blowing over empty fields is replaced with the call of migrating flocks going north and the air biting one’s cheeks has become a gentle kiss. In the northern climes spring is dramatic, visceral, transforming. Its coming affects us, mind and body and spirit.
Our OEF Principle # 4 talks about the practice of ‘Conversion’, a radical interior change called forth by the gospel. “Human frailty calls us to strive for this conversion daily.” Nature does ‘conversion’ all the time. How do we practice ‘conversion’ in OEF?
One way is being together in religious community and supporting each other’s spiritual growth through all seasons of our life together. We have had many changes of leadership in OEF and now we approach a very different style of leadership by using a process called Prayerful Discernment of God’s will. Practicing ‘conversion’, the radical interior change called forth by the gospels, prepares us in these changes ahead.
We are grateful. We are blessed.
Dale Carmen, OEF
