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Peacemaking, The Copper
Beech, & The Labyrinth
Reflections ~ About A Week Later
Write coherent, concrete paragraphs in response to five or more
of the following questions:
(Please number the paragraphs using numbers that appear below)
- Describe your reaction to having the class meet outdoors in
nature, instead of in a classroom? You may want to discuss feelings
as well as thoughts.
- Do you find it difficult to deal with conflict? Please explain.
- Do you find it difficult to close your eyes when with a group,
especially if you do not know what is coming next? Answer "yes"
or "no" and probe your feelings and reason for them.
- Which part of the outdoor experience with the Copper Beech
& Labyrinth did you find most helpful. Please explain. (The
exercise involved writing, discussions, imaging and reflection).
- Would you find it beneficial to return to the Labyrinth or Copper
Beech to contemplate and gain perspective on issues, stress, people,
and problems you encounter? Why/not?
- What insights did you gain into yourself, the person you had
a disagreement with, and dealing with conflict did you gain as
a result of your outdoor experience?
- (For 9 am class only) What effect did the noise from the leaf-collecting
machinery have on the experience? Did it negate the experience?
Did the noise lessen the experience? What was the effect on you
of the noise suddenly stopping during the time that we were all
gathered in the center of the labyrinth?
- Compare and contrast your initial feelings and thoughts about
the other person when under the Copper Beech tree with those that
you had as you began your journey into the Labyrinth, when you
reached the center, and after you had several hours or days to
reflect.
- What, if any, new feelings or insights did you experience concerning
how to deal with conflict and difficult people as a result of
the outdoor experience?
- What, if anything, are you going to do regarding the conflict
or your negative feelings about the other person as a result of
the outdoor experience?
- What suggestions might make the experience more beneficial?
- Did you feel more at peace with yourself and/or the other person
and the conflict after the experience?
When thinking and writing, you may benefit from reflecting on:
- "Love the Lord your God . . . and your neighbor as yourself."
- Who is my neighbor? What do you make of the Story of
the Good Samaritan?
- Jesus' story about seeking the lost sheep on the Sabbath.
- Jesus loved Peter, even though he knew Peter would betray him,
and Peter betrayed him.
- "You have heard it said, "Love your friends and hate
your enemies. I say . . . love your enemies and those who despise
you."
| English 101
B & E |
October 29,
2004 |
| Dr. Randolph
S. Klein |
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Peacemaking, The Copper
Beech, & The Labyrinth
1. Under the Copper Beech
a. Introduction to Copper Beech - its size, history, and symbolism
b. Prewrite ~ Use freewriting to deal with:
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i. describing the difficult person |
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ii. a specific conflict/problem you two had |
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iii. how you dealt with the problem/conflict |
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iv. describe your feelings when that person did
whatever upset you, and feelings during the conflict (when X
did Y, I felt A,B,C) |
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- Among the feelings you may have experiences are: anger,
frustration, hatred, rage, stupid, patronized, lonely, inferior,
weak, anxious
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c. Discussion in small group of difficult person you had conflict
with
d. Face Chapel, its spire, welcoming doors - concentrate on image
for 10 seconds, then close eyes. Repeat. Repeat several times ~
aim is for image to appear when eyes closed.
2. Experiencing the Labyrinth
a. Introduction to labyrinth - history, purpose, distinguish from
maze.
b. Image and focus on the person with whom you had the conflict
before the conflict began, when the relationship was healthy and
enjoyable.
c. Close your eyes for 15 to 20 seconds
d. Open your eyes and begin following the path into the Labyrinth
e. Stop - Image the person you had conflict with as the conflict
began to brew. Reflect.
f. Resume following the path
g. Stop - Image the person and incident when you and the other
person were angry and in the heat of the conflict. Recall your response
to what the other person did and said during the conflict
h. Resume following the path.
i. Stop - As the path becomes farther away from the Center of the
Labyrinth, reflect on actions and words by each of you that drove
you farther apart.
j. Resume following the path.
k. As you move on, close eyes and focus on image of the Chapel
- its spire, welcoming doors, and beauty - and reflect on the incident
and person. What could have been done differently?
l. As you continue, turn your focus to the Great Copper Beech.
Recall your trials and pains while reflecting on the tree that survived
236 years, despite five lightning strikes and many hurricanes. What
helped the tree survive?
m. As you continue, turn your focus to the College building. What
help, comfort, etc. can you draw from your educational experiences
over the years? Think about teachers, students, other people, and
activities that may have helped you through difficult situations.
n. AT THE CENTER - Close your eyes. Be still. Listen. [What one
student called "Group hug"]
o. After about two minutes open your eyes and begin to follow the
path that leads out of the Labyrinth. Move at your own pace; stop
and reflect as you wish.
p. This afternoon, over the weekend, freewrite about your experience.
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