Our Monthly Spiritual Themes guide our Chalice Circles, which are small, intentional groups of members and friends that gather for spiritual enrichment through personal sharing. For more information on Chalice Circles, please email Linda Benson at chalicecircles@uuprinceton.org.

Our Chalice Circle thoughts and questions around the theme of Reflection this month are:

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” ⎯ Confucius

What have you learned from bitter experience that you might have learned from reflection first? Or from imitation—of whom?

 

“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” ⎯ Thomas Merton

Have you found it easy to let those you love be themselves?

 

“I thank God for my failures. Maybe not at the time but after some reflection. I never feel like a failure just because something I tried has failed.” ⎯ Dolly Parton

How hard is it for you to get to this reflection point that Dolly has? How long does it take?

 

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” ⎯ Peter Drucker

Do you follow up an effective action with reflection? Or just high five it and keep rolling? What experience would have been better had you taken that reflection time?