LSR Blog: Part 2: Faith Grace & Joy, The Essence of Collaboration
Read Part 1 here: “Part 1: Why”
In initial retreat planning conversations with Carmen, we talked about gratitude practices. I revealed that my gratitude practice didn’t feel very present and I asked for help strengthening it. She suggested several ways to practice gratitude, including finding wording that works for me. So my ‘gratitude practice’ is actually a Faith, Joy & Grace practice. The three intertwine and rely on each other for support – a symbiotically, spiritual collaboration.
Faith
For me, faith is the belief in a presence greater and more abundant than myself and my surroundings. Having faith guides me to be present, courageous, kind, and connected. When I have faith, I am able to give from an overflowing cup and I have trust in the love offered to me. To collaborate, there has to be a faithfulness: faith that the efforts will yield results; faith that the others will pull their weight; faith that you made a wise choice; Faith that when the (sh*t) hits the fan, your co-creators have your back; faith that it will all work out. Faith helps me connect to Grace and Joy
Grace
Is one of the most difficult practices I ascribe to. To be gentle, forgiving, delicate, divine– to be graceful in mind, body and spirit – is challenging, important and sacred to me. I don’t feel very good at Grace, but I feel it stir often. Collaboration helps me strengthen my Grace muscle. It helps me communicate, understand and compromise. Grace fills in the space between Faith and Joy.
Joy
I love to be stoked. I love to be excited. I love to be brimming with energy for everything. Joy is an expression of grace and faith. It is a joy to celebrate life and all that it has to offer us. Collaboration, being such a fun way to connect, I can easily express joy while collaborating. It's because I love: having meetings, rolling around ideas, planning, executing, getting sidetracked, being productive & celebrating all the little wins along the way. For me, it is a Joy to be in the presence of others I love, respect and admire, discussing ideas.
The Practice of Faith, Grace and Joy in collaboration is beautiful and complicated; as is collaborative retreat planning. The symbiotic spiritual relationship of trusting lets me know it's okay to compromise and when compromising, we are finding a middle way that holds space for each other and for our future attendees, fostering powerful faith.
What are we planning anyway?
Keep an eye out for Part 3 or check out our website: