Session 1: My Journey Begins You are about to begin a journey that will take you deeper into your life experiences. Leader’s Note: You are joining with others in what we call a Journey Group. Together we will look Explain how the at people and events that have left an imprint on our hearts. This will be a journey time is organized of discovery. Some of it will be painful, some will be surprising and some will be and share the exciting. We hope you will gain a greater understanding and appreciation for your purpose of the story, as well as an increased awareness of grace and a deeper intimacy with the Journey Group. Author of your story. Let the participants know that on this journey they are in Session 1: Journey Map the driver’s seat. We sit next to them and comment on the journey as tour !Homework guides. Fellow passengers will also tThe Purpose of a Journey Group.....................................................2 comment as well as take their turn tThe Good Samaritan ....................................................................... 3 behind the wheel. t Anticipating The Journey ............................................................... 4 . Teaching t Stopping for the Wounded ............................................................. 6 t Personal Illustration: The Inn ....................................................... 9 Journey Group tJourney Group Guidelines ............................................................10 t Clues to Your Story .......................................................................11 t Preparing To Tell Your Short Story ............................................13 t Story Framing Questions .............................................................14 Journal Page ......................................................................................15 + Additional Material .........................................................................17 1 ! The Purpose of a Journey Group Leader’s Note: On any journey it’s good to know who your travel companions are and the purpose of the expedition. Journey Groups are designed to guide your journey of recovery Share highlights from the damage of wounds. Typically, your group of travelers has six members on the purpose of and two leaders and will be interacting together for the next nine sessions, looking this kind of special at each of your lives, past and present. group. As we examine the past and talk about scenes of harm and disappointment, we also identify where we developed ways of coping that seemed right and worked for us as children. These ways of coping were designed to protect us from further pain. Now as adults, we see how our childish ways damage our present relationships with God and others. We can risk change. Change occurs as we become more open and allow ourselves to feel, think and speak truth. The group strives to be an honest and loving mirror to one another. Deep change is the work of the Holy Spirit. Journey Groups offer tastes of what a Godly, loving community is meant to be. Below are some ideas that characterize this particular journey and these travel companions. Members of a Journey Group… 1. Join with you to walk side-by-side on the journey to wholeness, aliveness and a deeper trust in God. When we are 2. Place a high priority on confidentiality. Group members endeavor to be worthy connected to others, of one another’s trust. They understand that you are the only one who should we can experience tell your secrets and your story. Jesus in human form. 3. Invite you to feel whatever is inside, talk about it and not tell you how you should feel. 4. Know that they have not yet arrived even if they have been on this journey for a while. We are together in the struggle. 5. Believe that pain is part of coming alive and will produce growth and maturity. We will not try to rescue you out of your pain but will enter it with you. 6. Endeavor to talk through any offenses that occur in group and come to a resolution. 7. Value giving and receiving words spoken in love, releasing us to be the men and women God designed us to be. 2 The Good Samaritan ! As you begin this journey, consider where others have helped you, stopped for you and listened to you. The story of the Good Samaritan is a story of a man on a journey and another who stopped. Please read the passage below and consider any similarities to your own experiences. And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall (Luke 10:25-37)1 I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; Do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” The Good Samaritan Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers and they stripped him and beat him and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” 3 ! Anticipating the Journey Leader’s Note: As you anticipate this journey, you may become aware of a variety of feelings, hopes and desires, as well as concerns. Your fellow travelers may be experiencing similar Be sure to cover thoughts and feelings. At the start of their journeys, other travelers have said… their responses in Group. Circle the thoughts and feelings that relate to you: 1. I want to be invisible. Share one or two 2. I want to be strong. I don’t need to be here. that relate. 3. I am afraid to be here. There is something I don’t want to talk about. 4. I have overwhelming feelings. 5. I am numb. 6. I don’t belong here. I don’t have secrets. 7. The things that happened in childhood don’t affect me now. 8. I am breaking denial. 9. What if someone finds out? 10. I am afraid of exposure. Who will see me? What will they say? 11. I had a wonderful childhood. I’m not sure why I’m here. 12. I’m excited and looking forward to the trip. 13. I want to leave before we start. 14. I am nervous and I want to change. I want to be different. 15. I want to figure out why I am angry. 16. I want my life to be different. Write out your What are your questions as you start this journey? questions. 1. Is this a safe place? 2. Can my leaders handle me? 3. Will I enjoy my leaders? 4. Will I like my group? 5. Other questions? 4 After experiencing a Journey Group, the same people said… 1. I received honest feedback for the first time. 2. I got in touch with my feelings and thoughts. 3. There was a bond of shared experiences; I feel connected with others in my group. 4. I have words for things I feel. 5. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. 6. It’s a safe place. 7. I am valued for who I am. 8. I was treated with kindness and compassion. 9. I have learned and am encouraged. 10. I have established close friendships and trust. 11. There has been openness. 12. I was surprised by change. 13. This ministry kicked my butt and I needed it. 14. I’m finding the more I risk, the stronger I feel as a man. 15. It takes courage to let go of control. 16. I experienced restored relationships. 17. I met Jesus on this journey! 18. I feel much more comfortable responding to hurting people. 19. I stopped hating that part of me that was abused. Share or write down your responses. What are your hopes for the journey? 5 . Stopping for the Wounded Leader’s Note: How do you define compassion, mercy and love? Jesus illustrated these traits with Balance teaching a story about a wounded traveler left to die and a Samaritan who chose to stop. and story in your In this session, we will walk through the story found in Luke 10:25–37 from the 30 minutes. (20 perspective of the one who was wounded. minutes for your story/10 minutes for As you come to a Journey Group, you may know what wounded you or you may teaching) not. You may or may not be able to say who hurt you, or when or how you were hurt. You may question if what you remember is really so bad. You sense all is not as it should be and want more for yourselves and your relationships. Consider weaving Maybe people have walked by and failed to see you or look at your wounds.