The New Wine Press vol 25 no 4 December 2016 | Page 14

Wine Tasting

Circles as a Path to Harmony
by Kathy Keary, Kansas City Companion
Several years ago as a group of us were returning
from an interfaith peace service, a fellow parishioner
asked our pastor how we could be instruments of
peace in our war-torn and violent world. He wisely
stated that we can be channels of peace within our
own realm of influence: in our families, work places,
and communities. I took his message to heart and
have tried to implement his advice in my life. Over
the years, as conflicts arise, I have recognized that
often times his words are easier said than done. As
people of reconciliation, we are called to foster right
relations with all people. After all, Jesus shed his
blood for us so that we would be reconciled to the
Father and one another.

The great divisions that exist in our country and our
world have been amplified this year by an intolerant
narrative against people of different faiths, races, and
sexual orientation. I have personally been horrified
by the hateful rhetoric, as I am sure many of you have
been also. What can we as Precious Blood people do to
foster a spirit of understanding and harmony among
all people without exception, to be people of reconciliation and peace in our own community, to live
out Jesus’ mandate to “love one another”? I sense the
answer may be grounded in intentionally developing
relationships with those who are different than us. For
that reason, we intend to invite people of diversity to
the Precious Blood Renewal Center for the purpose of
sharing our stories, increasing our mutual understanding, acceptance, and compassion of all without exception. Beginning in January, we will hold Circles on the
first Wednesday evening of the month.
Circles have existed forever as a symbol of unity
and wholeness. Community developed in ancient
times as people shared their stores gathered around
a fire to keep warm and safe and cook their food.
Archeological discoveries confirm this ancient
practice that continues today in indigenous groups
around the world. We see a modified version in
our society as people gather in a circle for support,
prayer, and faith sharing.
What makes the Circles we intend to hold at the
Center special? A simple ritual will begin and conclude our time together marking the space and time
as sacred. The center of the circle will contain symbols
of our purpose of celebrating unity among diversity.
We will invite into our space values that will foster our
12 • The New Wine Press • December 2016

purpose, such as
compassion, understanding, and
truth. A safe space
will be created so
that all are comfortable sharing
from the heart.
We will use a heart
as a talking piece
that will be passed
around the circle.
The person holding the heart will
speak their truth
while the others
prayerfully listen as compassionate witnesses. Room
will be made for silence and reflection as we absorb all
that we hear. Leadership of the Circle will be shared.
Wednesday evening, January 4, 2017 we will hold
Circle training at the Center. As people of hospitality,
the training will prepare us to welcome others into our
Circle the following month. We invite all to attend the
training whether you would like to become involved
in our monthly “Circles at the Center” or would like to
learn more about Circles to use in another setting.
Circles have the potential to be life-changing as we
bring into our day-to-day activities a deeper understanding and acceptance of people different than
ourselves. A sense of solidarity with others will be
strengthened as we learn of the many common threads
that unite us as God’s people. In the words of Pope
John Paul ii, “solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’… as
our ‘neighbor,’ a ‘helper,’ to be made a sharer, on a par
with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are
equally invited by God.” A heightened concern for the
common good will likely follow.
The vision statement of the Companion movement, Gather, Send, states: “We bring the cup of our
spirituality to ever-widening circles, to people of all
generations, races, and cultures.” Precious Blood
spirituality calls us to be in union with all. We invite
others into the Circle, not to change them, but as a
means to increase our mutual understanding, respect,
and compassion for the other as we endeavor to live in
harmony with all God’s creation. W