Reflective Disciples and Reflective Practioners

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 18 May 2009 05:00:17

Despite my decision earlier in the week I found myself at Methsoc tonight, learning how to become a faithful reflector (or engage in reflective faith)...or what ever the powerpoint said. The term I am sure will become clear when I read The Reflective Disciple by Roger Walton, which is what we were hearing about from the author tonight.

The key idea explored was linked to the notion reflective practice leads to deep learning and new ways of doing things. The argument being put forward by Walton was that when this reflective practice takes place from a faith position using the tools of our faith (i.e. scripture and tradition) we can relate better to both God and the world around us... thus becoming more faithful disciples. Sometimes this will lead to transformative experience and it will help us better engage with post-modern culture.

I found the whole thing facinating. Reflective practice is something I am more than familiar with from the teaching context. This meant tonight my head was exploding in a range of different directions.The teacher within me engaged with the general theory being discussed. The sociologist within me started thinking about what was being said about using this to react to post-modernism (as put forward by Lyotard in terms of "no meta-narratives anymore"). The theologian within me started to think about how this could be used to help us understand better the experience of single mothers and other marginalised groups. The blogger within me started thinking how reflection benefits from the feedback of others and how the nature of the Wibsite sometimes lent itself to exactly the type of reflection being referred to. The Christian within me started to think about how I might use this tool to deepen my faith both individually and in community. To be honest I think it's a wonder my brain didn't explode.

Anyway, as I started to think all this through here are my conclusions:
1) The book is going to be worth getting hold of and critically engaging with.
2) That the the basic tools for this practice. already exist. For example recently I've been learning about the using the tools of scripture, tradition, experience and reason to reflect and this being some kind of quadilatteral Wesley came up with....so reflective practice isn't exactly a new thing.
3) That one has to be careful, whilst there has to be an intentional element spirituality cannot be reduced to a formular or set of formulars. Sometimes the result of reflection has to be that no change is needed and one has to rest a while.
4) That deep learning has to be, on one level, an engagement with the mystery of learning. Anybody who has had a real "ah ha" moment will know these moments come out of the blue. Yet reflection has it's place. When we have had that "ah ha" moment we need to work out what to do with it. We don't need to seek to explain everything...rather we want to understand what to do with the knowledge we have gained.
5) This practice doesn't address the real issue. Too often we do reflect and understand what we "ought" to do or know what we are "called" to do yet we do not have the courage or faith to do this. For me this faithful reflection can only work if we know where to go to get the tools and support we need to put the changes required into practice. Reflection on its own can only be a tool to facilitate the process of journeying and change not achieve it.