What You'll Need

• 30 minutes of uninterrupted time

• Your reflections from Steps One and Two

• A journal or notebook

• A candle (optional)

Beginning in Scripture

Find your quiet space - the same one where you've done Steps 1 and 2 if possible. If you have a candle, light it. Take three deep breaths, letting each exhale release any tension or preoccupation.

Begin with Jesus's words from Matthew 5:37: "Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one." This teaching grounds our practice of discernment in clarity and conviction. As Thurman understood, this call to truth-telling gives power to those whose backs are against the wall and challenges us to align our lives with our deepest yes.

Now open your Bible (or Bible app) to these passages. Read each one slowly, allowing the words to settle in your heart:

• "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." (Luke 4:18)

• "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

• "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead." (James 2:26)

After reading each passage:

• Take one deep breath

• Notice any words or phrases that stand out

• Let them connect with what you discovered about your Inner Authority in Step 2

The Practice of Sacred Attention

Just as Thurman found clarity beneath his oak tree, we now create space to see both challenge and possibility. Settle your body:

• Feel your feet on the floor

• Let your shoulders drop

• Notice the rhythm of your breath

• Remember that you are held in God's love

Now, holding the posture of a contemplative witness, let these questions arise one at a time. Don't rush to answer them. Let images, feelings, and thoughts emerge naturally. You might want to keep your journal nearby to note what surfaces.

What breaks your heart when you look at the world?

Examples might include:

• Children going hungry in a land of plenty

• Elderly neighbors isolated and alone

• Young people losing hope in their future

• The earth groaning under environmental devastation

Sit with what arises for 2-3 minutes before moving to the next question.

Where do you see people with their backs against the wall?

Examples might include:

• Families choosing between diapers and food

• LGBTQ+ youth rejected by their families

• Refugees seeking safety and welcome

• Workers trapped in exploitative conditions

Again, sit with what arises for 2-3 minutes.

What makes you angry enough to act?

Examples might include:

• Systems that perpetuate poverty

• The silence in the face of injustice

• The weaponization of faith to harm others

• The dismissal of human dignity

Sit with this for 2-3 minutes.

Where do you sense the possibility for transformation?

Examples might include:

• In the courage of young activists

• In communities coming together across differences

• In the resilience of the human spirit

• In small acts of radical kindness

Let these examples be guides rather than limitations. Trust what emerges for you.

Mapping Your Sacred Yes

Now, open your journal and create three columns. At the top of each, write:

• What I See

• What I Feel

• What Makes Me Come Alive

Looking back at what emerged in your sacred attention:

1. In the first column, list 3-5 specific situations that stirred your heart. Be as concrete as possible. Instead of "homelessness," you might write "people sleeping in their cars in our church parking lot."

2. In the second column, name your emotional response to each situation. Don't judge these feelings. They might be grief, anger, hope, or confusion. All are valid.

3. In the third column, note any ways you feel drawn to respond. What gifts, skills, or passions might you bring? What makes you come alive when you think about engaging with this need?

Now, on a fresh page, craft your Sacred Yes Statement. Write 2-3 sentences completing:

• "I say yes to..."

• "This yes requires me to say no to..."

• "I bring these gifts..."

Take time with each line. Remember Thurman's teaching that every authentic yes requires a clear no.

Communal Discernment

Close your eyes and bring to mind your faith community. Think of specific faces, relationships, and spaces where you experience God's presence with others.

In your journal, reflect on:

• Who might walk with you in this calling? Name 2-3 specific people.

• What wisdom from your faith community might inform this work? Remember particular conversations, sermons, or experiences that relate to your Sacred Yes.

• Where might God be already at work in your community around these concerns?

Optional Extension: Community Asset Mapping

If you wish to go deeper after this session:

• Create a list of local organizations addressing these needs

• Identify potential mentors or guides who are already engaged in similar work

• Map existing resources and partnerships in your community

• Note where gaps exist and where your Sacred Yes might meet an unmet need

Looking Ahead

In our final step, we'll move from this Sacred Yes to specific, sustainable actions that allow us to live out our calling while remaining grounded in the divine. We'll create practices that help us maintain both our spiritual devotion and our sacred action in the world.

Closing Prayer

Return to your breath. Feel the ground beneath you. Remember that you are not alone in this work. Close with this prayer or one of your own:

"Divine Presence, help us to hear both your yes and your no. Grant us courage to stand with those whose backs are against the wall, wisdom to know our role, and love to sustain us in the work. Guide us to where we might come alive in service to your world. Amen."