It is rare for organisations to seek spiritual discernment together as a leadership team. It was inspiring that the Anglican Preschool Services sought out God’s direction. They contacted Rev Dr Jimmy Tan to help facilitate a group discernment process. Jimmy formed a team comprising himself, Dr Kai Huey and me. While I have co-led a church visioning and focusing process with James Creasman (CRMS), I was eager to observe how a group spiritual discernment process is facilitated. I was not disappointed.
The Anglican Preschool Services (APS) has navigated the stormy weather of the last decade of heavy government intervention in this mostly private sector. The challenges are financial sustainability, major structural changes, and competition, not to speak of declining enrolment and the usual manpower shortages. They have faced these challenges head-on by God’s grace and providence. However, with the latest government updates on preschool policy, recalibrations are needed.
Twelve leaders gathered for a two-day discernment retreat at Montfort Centre. It began at 8.30am on a Thursday and ended at 5pm on Friday. Three-quarters of the first day was devoted to preparing individuals to notice interior movements of consolation and desolation. This comprised talks to explain what these were and individual spiritual direction to help them process their interior movements. The next day was fully devoted to corporate discernment and structured communal listening and sharing. At the end of the process, there was a collating and discussion of various threads that resonated with the leaders.
It was a privilege to listen to the leaders during the spiritual direction sessions. These sessions were scheduled in the late morning and afternoon of the first day. I found the corporate discernment process of the second day interesting. However, I needed to persevere through the afternoon session.
Besides learning about the group discernment process, I became more attuned to the challenges faced by the APS. The leadership team is like a family. I could sense the peace, joy and love in their relationships. They are strongly united in their shared values and care greatly about their mission. The leadership tone was not top-down but godly, servant-like and respectful of everyone’s contribution and sharing. They shared from what God communicated with them through scriptures, God-incidences, and nature.
One of the leaders shared lovely photos she took while walking. Her reflections resonated with me and inspired me to view my photography hobby from a contemplative perspective. I once practised photography as a contemplative exercise but had been distracted for a while. It was a divine invitation to go back to that.
Such retreats are tiring yet satisfying. I felt the drain when I reached home. I sat in front of the TV watching nothing in particular. Just unwinding. Then I continued my sermon preparation for Sunday.