Oracle 2021
Thoughts and Feelings from the Sidelines
*Oracle is the annual leadership retreat of Illuman. This year, as part of a larger reweaving process, Oracle was opened to all men who identify themselves as concerned members of the Illuman Community. If you're interested in learning more about what this means and the steps undertaken during Oracle 2021, please contact Chuck Rihm.
Article Abstract
Please note I realize time is precious – like abstracts for research papers and dissertations – I offer this quick take (read Cliff Notes version, the bottom line, a summary etc.) regarding the following article so, if time is short, you can get the gist of it and be on with your day – or choose to read on for more detail and background.
There is a place for society’s marginalized men and it is in Illuman. This includes the homeless and near homeless from all racial populations – White, “black, indigenous and people of color” (BIPOC). Illuman can become the home for those on a spiritual journey toward wholeness who are currently participating in recovery groups, spiritual direction, retreats, etc. Illuman just needs to have the will to do it.
To be continued…
Brothers,
I made my rites in 2004 at Ghost Ranch, and at Richard Rohr and Stephen Picha’s request (Stephen was the former executive director of the Center for Action and Contemplation and M.A.L.Es coordinator). I returned the next 2 years as a team member who did the Grief Talk on Day 3. It was both a formative and transformative experience for me. More on that a bit later but first some further background.
My last memory of those years was receiving a two-sided card as we were wrapping up each ritual and being sent back into the world. I have it in my wallet to this day – “The Common Wonderful” and “The 5 Hard Truths.” The latter was my primary connection to this year’s Oracle Leadership Retreat. I say that because I had very little contact with CAC regarding the rites for many years after. Although many men from Ohio had already attended and more would be attending in subsequent years, I did next to nothing in trying to organize them as Stephen had requested. The few phone calls I made went nowhere. The card, however, stayed in my wallet and my connection to Richard’s work at CAC continued. My spiritual grounding in what Richard calls “the alternative orthodoxy” is still in motion and truly transformative to this day. The card remains a clear reminder of the beauty and the perils of the spiritual path and the necessity of taking that path in hope, faith and yes, with a little trepidation. What was lacking until now (and I certainly didn’t realize it then) was a calling - a reason to live it out in my life – to move from my head to my heart to my body and to my life on the ground.
Fast forward to 2009 when I got a call from Chuck Rihm (Convener of Ohio Illuman) who invited me to his house to join in the formation process of creating what has become Ohio Illuman. In the past 10 years or so I have been a “social” member of Ohio Illuman – attending some monthly Saturday gatherings – even opening up my church as a central meeting place – dabbling in and out without any real energy. Big deal – not a whole lot of commitment there! Just cruising along on auto pilot.
Then, just last month, Chuck called to invite me to Oracle 2021, and while Zooming in from our extra bedroom, pieces started to fall into place. I initially observed from the sidelines – not quite knowing what to do and how to act. As the days progressed – and there were 4 of them, as my wife reminded me – I became more comfortable and attuned to what was actually going on. In short, an organization was moving into a new stage of growth - dying and being reborn. As a former non-profit consultant, I had seen it and addressed it many times with client organizations in their 7th/8th year (or so) of existence. Right on schedule. But now I personally and viscerally witnessed and experienced it as the process presented by our consultants, Adam and Miriam from “We Are a Circle,” worked its way into my being. A rash of feelings followed: empathy for the pain and frustration of those who said “what the hell just happened?”; curiosity as the brainstorming process rolled out; and excitement as the shepherds took “it” with our trust and blessing - to work it out into something we can chew on at Oracle 2 on May 22. Inspiring!
While that develops and we wait in hopeful anticipation – the Oracle experience has prompted me to think deeper into the components of a continuum I have been living and working in for over 20 years. I have supported homeless and near homeless men in Cleveland in various capacities that now seem to have a logical flow and progression. Through the power of relationships centered on “being with” and not just “doing for” - I envision the possibility of accompanying men from homelessness to jobs & housing to stable lives through the grounding offered by the men’s work we do at Illuman. To be specific, the deepening spiritual journey offered by Illuman through MROP and subsequent supportive events could be the ultimate home for men in transition out of homelessness after experiencing other events such as recovery groups, spiritual direction and retreats. The aforementioned activities would, of course, continue with other supportive work, but these could now all be solidified and grounded in a deepening and dynamic journey lead by the work of the “new” Illuman. Just how it would work as an integrative and transformative process is where the excitement lies! All of this can be worked out in a new organizational structure which embraces the goals set forth in Oracle 2021 and which most certainly includes inviting, welcoming and learning from the many marginalized homeless and near homeless men in our midst!