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The process of Reflecting with God is straightforward. There are several versions of the same basic approach in common use. The basic model has four stages which follow each other in an ever widening circle or spiral. This is sometimes called the Pastoral Cycle.

There are many excellent resources available on this subject. We identify two of the key ones below.

The model we will use is called SARA which makes it easy to remember.

The four stages:

• Story
• Analysis
• Reflection
• Action

The four stages suggested by Laurie Green are Experience, Exploration, Reflection and Response. Read more about SARA method

Reflecting in a Group

It is best to do Reflecting with God in a small group of diverse people who have some genuine interest in the topic under discussion and are keen to explore new possible ways of relating to the topic. It is very helpful if the group are open to personal change. The group may already exist because it has taken on a particular task and have decided that using this Reflecting with God approach might help.

Group needs to meet and get to know each other. They need to begin to share something of themselves and their hopes in working together. The group needs to recognise and appreciating the differences and similarities.

The group should establish a basis of confidentiality and trust

Select a topic for attention

The group needs to decide to focus on an issue or theme around which the work of Reflecting with God will be done. The issue has to have some edge to it that makes it engaging for the group. Best topics are those that touch members deeply as humans.

Engaging topics often have a theme of worry - "How are we going to cope with this"? "What on earth shall we do about this"?

Good theology is more likely to derive from a prison than a palace