Chapter 8
Talk Outlines
Talkshop Questions
The following outlines and questions are meant to be an aid, but not restricting. The talk need not fit the outline exactly as each person giving a talk is different. It is important, however, that the purpose of the talk be met.
Talks should be personal:
· Use the word I, not you. It makes the difference between a lecture and a personal sharing.
· Use personal examples and stories to pull in the listeners. When we listen to stories, we find ourselves in them.
· Use songs, props, poems and whatever else you can think of to reinforce your talk.
· Have fun giving your talk, don’t worry no one is expecting an expert speaker.
Talkshop Questions
These questions are again a guideline and can be used to encourage discussion in the large group setting. You don’t have to get to every question. The co-hosts are the facilitators of the large groups and can adjust accordingly to how the discussions are going.
Talk #7 What are you being the rest of your life?
PURPOSE:
To introduce the participant to the truth that each person has a vocation, which is essentially a call to belong in relationships. How you are struggling or how you struggled with trying to find that vocation.
OUTLINE:
a) Read John 15:1-15
b) Share the sense of vocation you had as a child, as an adolescent, as a young adult, and at the present time.
Suggestions:
This talk can come from someone who has already found their vocation such as the committed religious person, or the Spiritual Director, or it can come from the single young adult who is still searching for their vocation.
Talk Shop#7 What are you being the rest of your life?
Did you ever consider yourself as having a vocation?
What kind of vocation do your present relationships indicate you may be called to?
What difference does it make to you whether or not you have a sense of vocation?
Read slowly and thoughtfully.
How we live our lives is very much up to us. All sorts of possibilities present themselves. The ones we usually consider seriously are those which fall into our realm of competence or personal experience. We seriously consider careers based on what we know we can do or on what our interests are. The main factor in picking a life path for many of us has probably been, “How do I pay the rent, buy groceries, etc.?” “What can I do that will net the most goodies?”
So we embark on some career that might or might not work out as we expected. If it doesn’t, we either learn to suffer with it or we change it as readily as we change channels on TV. Given that the current career outlook is that most people will change careers/jobs six to eight times in life, what do we do when we reach life’s equivalent of “There’s nothing on TV tonight?” Seldom do we approach life choices in terms of, “How can I make a difference in other peoples’ lives?” Seldom does it occur to any of us to ask the question, “What makes my heart sing?” “What really makes me happy? What do I want to do with my life?”
This weekend has been about relationships and belonging. We’ve looked at how we discover ourselves in relationships with other people. Something to remember is that our two most enduring relationships are with God and ourselves. We never can get away from either one. In the Gospel of Matthew, at the last judgment, when those who cared for others, and therefore Jesus, were separated from those who spent their whole life wrapped up in themselves, isn’t that really a separation of those who made a difference from those who never did? Consider the fate of the servant who buried the one talent he was given. It was taken from him and he was treated harshly by his master. Most of us are pretty quick to do a favor to help another person, even someone we don’t even know. To the person who receives that favor, we made a difference in their life. That favor, no matter how big or small, made a difference to somebody. “I assure you, no one who gives so much as a cup of water to one of these least ones will lose his reward in heaven.”
Perhaps you have seldom thought of yourself as being someone who could make a real difference in the lives of others. The very idea of reaching out to others in service may have seemed too extraordinary for you. You might think, how much of a difference could I make if I decided to spend myself in the service of others? A fair question, but its answer will only come in the giving and doing. With today’s stress on skills, intelligence, or competence in doing things, we may feel the pressure to perform or to be task oriented even in the realm of serving others, even in choosing a vocation. Each of us is called by God and by our Christian people to a vocation. Deciding what our vocation is within our Christian family, by their witness and vocation in life, aids us in deciding what our vocation is to be. Because we belong in relationship with them, we can gain valuable insight into what we are called to be in this family.
Vocation – a call, summons, or impulsion to perform a certain function or enter a certain career. A vocation is not just a job. A vocation within our Christian family is a call to belong to another. Even when we choose a vocation based on, “What makes my heart sing?”, it’s how well we belong to and serve others that determines how well we are living our vocation.
You don’t have to look far for an opportunity to be of service to others. There are hospitals, schools, nursing homes, retreat centers and churches that need your talent, time and singing heart. There are many avenues of service available, both as a lay person and in the religious life.
Our future is now developing in our relationships with family, friends, our church family, and God. They are always asking us to respond to our vocation by belonging to them. Whatever vocation or form of service we choose, we are telling others we want to belong, we want to make a difference.
Who Are You Being the Rest of Your Life?
Some things to Face
1. If you can, write the name of the person or persons after each of the following:
A couple with a really good marriage
A priest whom you admire
A religious sister or brother who inspired you
A single adult dedicated to the care of others in the Church
2. In what areas do you need to improve the way you belong to others? (Check all that apply)
____learn to forgive
____be myself with others
____show my affection and appreciation more
____listen more carefully
____be interdependent
____give more time to others
____put others before myself
____enjoy others more
____accept forgiveness
____ let others inside me
____ other (specify)
3.What do you find most appealing about each of the following?
Matrimony
Religious life
Priesthood
Single dedicated life
4.The excuse or obstacle that keeps me from being more involved in the lives of others is (check one):
_____ my laziness
_____ my shyness
_____ lack of time
_____ too tired from working
_____ too much school work
_____ nobody wants my help
_____ I have nothing to offer
_____ my help was rejected in the past
_____ my selfishness
_____ other (specify)
Solo Exercise
The Parable of the Sums of Money
A man of noble birth went to a faraway country to become its king and then return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them sums of ten units each, saying to them, “Invest this until I get back.” He returned, however, crowned as king. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to learn what profit each had made. The first presented himself and said, “Lord, the sum you gave me has earned you another ten.” “Good man” he replied “you showed yourself capable in a small matter. For that you can take over ten villages.” The second came and said, “Your investment my lord has netted you another five.” His word to him was, “Take over five villages.” The third came in and said: “Here is your money, my lord, which I hid for safekeeping. You see, I was afraid of you because you are a hard man.” To him the king said: “You worthless lout. I intend to judge you on your own evidence .” He said to those standing around “Take from him what he has, and give to the man with the ten.” (Luke 19:12-13; 15-21; 22-24).
1.Why do you think the man would want to hide the sum of money?
2.Check the item which stops you the most from investing yourself in others.
___ I’m shy.
___ I’m too busy with work.
___ I’m too involved in sports and hobbies.
___ I don’t know how.
___ I don’t need others.
___ It’s too much of a hassle.
___ No one would understand me.
___ I like to be a loner.
___ My friends.
___ Other (specify)
3.Name three relationships that have changed the direction of your life. Describe how this has happened in each one