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Fruits of the Spirit
- Charity
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Generosity
- Gentleness
- Faithfulness
- Modesty
- Self Control
- Chastity
My outline
- Confirmation is the sealing of the person with the Spirit.
- It is the beginning of our comission to go out into the world and be the hands of God.
- And while we falter, myself no exception, in our faith from that moment, it is a sign that God will not abandon us and will continue to guide us towards him.
- The spirit is that which not only guides, but empowers all that we do to be fruitful.
- To me this is most clear in the fruit of Goodness - that which fulfills its purpose, and then more.
- All that we do that is not in and of the spirit is in vain; that which is done in the spirit is organic and has life.
Exemplar - in work
A common question amongst young people on the path is "how can my work be salvific? How can the non-consecrated life be a path to holiness? How can I grow closer to God in what I do day-to-day?" The Church has always taught that everyone - priest, married, unmarried, monk, CEO, handyman - can achieve sainthood - and has developed a good theology of work to support this. But theology - like all work - is good insofar only as it is actualized and lived.
- In my day job, I'm an engineer and I design equipment. The spirit guides me not only in how I treat those immediately around me, but the sorts of things I design - designing things so they're human-centric and servicable. Design that follows the transcendentals - truth, beauty, and goodness. As the spirit dwells with me, I am inspired to design in accordance with the divine Logos.
- The spirit also works through me when I'm able to solve problems that others have with the gifts that God has given me - repairing a neighbor's washer, or fixing a friend's fender, or advising them how they should construct a new piece of equipment.
- I'm coming to realize the organic nature of the spirit. I'll give you an example where the story isn't finished yet but is really just starting.
- My friends had been asking me for a while: "hey, we should learn some more practical arts". And I said "hey, I know woodworking". Well a few days later, another one of my friends is looking for someone to commission to build a little altar for his closet.
- Well, this isn't just coincidence: this is the spirit moving to help integrate bits of our lives together; to build that holistic goodness. I told my friend, "Actually, I'd like to teach you - and my friends in the process - how to make that altar." And so we're doing that right now. We'll meet to pray (a very important step), learn, work, and commune after.
- I don't know exactly what will come out of it - I don't have a rigid plan or syllabus. I know that it's inspired a friend of mine to restore an old table rather than buy a new one from a big box store. I know it's helping my friends gain confidence in themselves. I know it's helping them grow in communion with each other, and learn how to use work as a sacramental.
- I'm running into people who I'm inspiring in the same way - "hey, I have a skill to share. I'm going to share it with others in a faith-centered context. I know how to dance and so I'm going to teach that. I know how to sew so I'm going to teach that."
- This isn't about just the end result but about the how and the process. It's not an assembly line. We're seeking uniqueness, surrender, dwelling within the Spirit.
- And I'm realizing that I don't need to know everything or have a perfect plan. We make plans, God laughs at them. His plans are better, and when we are attentive to His will - when we invite the Spirit in - then great things will grow.
From Raul
Ideas:
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Fruits of the Holy Spirit: "Goodness" - design that makes people's lives better
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Love of practical mindset - holistic solutions that tackle many problems
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Design that is good, right, just
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similar in the Spiritual life - the Spirit has an overarching design (mystical)
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Spirit of Goodness - example
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@Makerspace, making an "altar for one's closet"
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proficient with hands
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commune with each other
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teaching skills/camaraderie/redeem work
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outpouring of graces
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not seeking efficiency as a goal, but sharing with one another
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teaching this class - ora et labora (prayer & work) - benedictine
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Goal: communion (how do you pray through working)?
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this is not an assembly line project; seeking uniqueness; surrender; be within the Spirit.
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The Spirit dwells in me - Confirmation
Next Steps:
- Raul to reach out to St. Peter's Church (Fr. Gendron/Fr. Rory)
- Meet on Friday morning @ St. Peter (once approval from pastor is received) for interview and B-Roll
- Thad to record on Saturday B-roll with his class as they build things (1080p, 60 fps, use gimble) - record the stages of the work and the final product.