Choices
Talk 4: Doing the Best We Can

Objectives

• Recognize some of the difficulties of trying to make the right choice.
• Identify support sources when faced with challenging choices.

Activity: Song

"What a Good Boy" by Bare Naked Ladies is an honest look at the pressures put upon youth to live up to certain standards of behavior-- pressures which clash with the longings of adolescence for love and acceptance. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 expresses the longing and struggle for God throughout life. "I am a Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel is a classic example of the anti-talk song. The song demonstrates what happens when we give up on the struggle to live a Christian life.

Activity #1 Talk: Doing the Best We Can

It's not easy.

Suffering happens.

How and who to trust.

Activity Song

"The Cross" by Prince is a simple but stirring spiritual that calls us to place our hope in the Lord through the saving power of His Cross. "Return to Innocence" by Enigma is an uplifting anthem reminding us of the joy of trust and living for love and devotion. "Stand by Me" is a classic about the value of friendship.

Before going off into small groups discuss the song and how it applies to the talk.

Activity: Group Discussion

Split off into small groups.

Now that we have begun to consider committing to good choices in our life, we have to be prepared for the effort that involves. One way we can prepare is by knowing our selves and what our past experiences have been.

Group Questions:

• Give an example of a time you wanted to quit or give up on something.
• Give an example of a time when you didn't quit but stuck with it and it really paid off.
• Give an example of a time when you didn't know what was going to happen next and you had to put your trust in someone else.
• What do you do when things become too hard to handle?

Reflection question: What could you do to help someone who is going through a difficult time and is having a hard time trusting God?

Activity: Outdoor Option: The Trees Part II

Meet outside again in an area with many trees. A Park or nature trail is ideal. Small groups should remain together after last discussion. You will need +your journal books and tape.

Earlier we discussed how the leaves are like our choices. Each of us has had the chance to reflect on some important choices that we have made or will make in our life. If we though of our choices as leaves than soon our life would be like these woods: covered above and below with colorful leaves.

What do your choices look like in the woodland of your life?

Select as examples a number of leaves to symbolize the choices you have been discussing from your own life or wrote on the choices chain. As you pick up and display each leaf, use it to tell the story of a choice you have made or will make. Here is a possible set of interpretations:

• Brightly colored: A good choice that brought out the best in you and made you a better person.
• Brown and Crispy: An old choice or an old way of life that has been finished.
• Small Leaf: A choice that seems insignificant or unimportant at first.
• Green Leaf on the tree: a choice that has not been made yet.
• Falling leaf in mid-air: a choice that you are in the middle of making or struggling with.
• Poison Ivy: (Don't pick up) a choice that brought more bad than good! (This is also an opportunity to identify it for the participants.

Staying in your groups, help each other to collect a set of leaves that symbolize the choices that you have been writing and talking about, especially the choice chain. The leaves you choose are those that grab your attention and help you to think of your choices.

For each leaf you choose, tape it to a page of your journal and write down what choice it represents. Save them for later.

Group leaders should be available to help participants find suitable leaves. Remember, there is no set code of meaning. Participants should choose those leaves that "speak" to them personally and help remind them of their choices.

Activity: Outdoor Option The Trees Part III

This third part is offered as a tie-in with and closure to the Choices Chain Project, especially if your chain needs to be brought to life with some colorful ornamentation. After the evening service and before the end of the retreat, place the Choices Chain around the icon of Christ and place it within reach, preferably in the Church on the analogion.

Participants should gather outside the church/ chapel area and have their journals with their leaves. Participants should remain quiet or led in quiet discussion about the retreat. Before anyone enters, and to set the mood, explain the following:

• Tonight we have the opportunity to make a choice for God.
• Tonight we have the gift of coming to Christ and offering up our choices, our challenges, and our hopes to Him.
• Tonight we come to "commit our selves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God."
• As you approach, meditate on each of your choices that you bring before Him. These may be represented by the leaves that you have collected. May these leaves be sweet and special offerings from your heart in prayer that God will continue to walk with you and lead you to the good life He has promised us.

Each participant should come individually to the analogion. The retreat master/clergy/group leaders should be present at the side of the icon.

• What have you brought before the Lord?
• What are the choices that you want to let the Lord help you with?

Each participant should be given the time to speak of the choices they are struggling with. At this point you may share with them your support and prayers for their continuing growth in Christ, and reassure them that He hears their prayers and is even now helping them and protecting them. This is of course a very personal moment and will be a unique ministry to each person.

When they are finished with each choice or as a whole they can take their leaves and attach them anywhere on the choices chain. No longer do they need to focus on their own link, since they have now joined with the Church in working together for our mutual salvation and well-being. Then they may leave and return to the group.

By the time every person has gone the chain should be a decorative wreath of many-colored leaves. It is important to note that the choices chain is no longer a simple decoration but an offering to God. Therefore it should be treated with respect. You should leave it on the icon for a time and if necessary, dispose of it respectfully. One method would be to retire it to a Church School room as a year-round reminder of the commitments made for Christ that day.

		Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry Orthodox Church in America PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791 http://yya.oca.org yyacm@oca.org The Hub | Back to top