Lebenslaufe

Today was the first day of "class" without the real class stuff. We began the morning at 8:30 with worship, and then broke up into small groups of about 10 students each and told our Lebenslaufe. I will copy the info on what a Lebenslaufe is, but it basically means your life story. At first I was a bit anxious to tell it, but after doing it, it felt like eveyone in the room was family, which is a wonderful way to begin the school year, or in my opinion, any small church group.

Guidelines for Lebenslaufe.

Each of us comes to new relationships and new situations with a unique life history. This life history is usually a series of stories which have particular meaning to us. Re-telling those stories in the presence of persons who have not heard them before enables us to discern new meanings of those stories and allows the others to relate to us with more depth and understanding.

The guidelines below are designed to provide some structure for the telling of your story. Using these categories, tell your story in 15-20 minutes and then allow others 5-10 minutes to react and comment to it.

1. Summary Information. Name; age; matiral status; number, age and sex of your children (if any); birthplace and "hometown;" names and ages of parents and siblings with note of any who are deceased; present employment, hobbies and interests.

2. The Meaning of Your Birth. Each of us recieves an oral tradition about how our birth was recieved and handled by parents and significant others; give your understanding of this.

3. Injunctions. Most of us recieve specific moral or religious injunctions from parents and significant others throughout the course of our development. Examples of these include, "You will never be as good as (sibiling);" "You are too... (serious, childish, scatterbrained)... for your own good;" "God expects you to... (behavior, vocation)."

4. Major Losses and Dissapointments. List these and any meaning you have given to them. these would include bereavements, separations, failures.

5. Major Successes and Transforming Events. These would include religious experiences, promotions, achievements, marriage, births of children, etc. which have had some transforming effect on your life. Give particular meaning ascribed to these events.

6. Medical History. Includes suffering or significant changes in your health; may be covered in (4) or (5) above.

7. Socio-cultural History. Cultural heritage, geographical moves, family rituals which have shaped your understanding of the world.

8. Religious History. Baptism, confirmation, converion, changes in denomination, early religious memories, etc. which have shaped your life.

9. Key Relationships. If not mentioned above, note family members, pastors, teachers, mentors, heros, friends, enemies, authors, etc. who have had a significant impact on your life.

The above material can either be given in these catagories or in chronological fashion with these catagories being noted in each era, or chapter, of one's life.

I would suggest you pick a Saturday that most people in your group can attend and take a break between every third story. Try to keeps group limited to 9 people or less.