| Take me: to other places on this web site: to the Home Page of PastoralPlanning.com to the Resource Center for lifelong faith formation to "Getting Started" with lifelong faith formation |
| Key Links Just Faith A site which supports a parish program to teach in depth about just living. LiveSimply From CAFOD in England, the people who began the movement for simpler living. Catholic Relief Services A powerful agent of change in the world, also leading the US implementation of this movement. Common Hope A non-profit agency working to end poverty in the third world by establishing there a middle class. |
The Seventh Step Watch what you eat, drink, use up, and throw away! Examine your patterns of consumption. Use the prayer to the right as you begin. |
| For group use when teaching this step to others Invite the members of your group to share the outcomes of their Inventory with the group. We realize that no one can really tell others how much to eat and drink, or how much is too much garbage. But let the Spirit enter into this discussion and be open to what emerges as Truth. |
| Prayer to assist you with this step Click here to print this or use it on your screen. Open your heart and prepare to take this step. |
| Read more deeply about learning to listen to God in prayer and about learning to "drive the speed limit" in life. See the e-books offered on the left side of this screen. |
| Tell us your story! What commitments have you made? What difficulties have you faced? What has worked for you as you chose to live more simply? How have you adjusted your lifestyle to one that is more sustainable? In what ways have you grown to be in solidarity with the poor of the world? Click here to send us a note and we'll share your story with others. To send us a video, song, pictures, poetry, or other media, simple attach it to an e-mail and send it to this address. |
| Take the other steps See a list of all 14 steps Step One: Step Two: Step Three: Step Four: Step Five: Step Six: You're on Step Seven! Step Eight: Step Nine: Step Ten: Step Eleven: Step Twelve: Step Thirteen: Step Fourteen: |
| Step Seven: Become more aware of how much and what you consume. In this important step, we will do another short inventory, this one aimed at helping you become conscious of your consumption of the world's goods. This will involve you "following yourself around" for several days, noting everything which you either use or throw away. That's right, we're asking you to inspect your own garbage! Click here to find a useful Inventory worksheet to help you with this step. The first step in reducing consumption, living more simply and sustainably, is to |
| be aware in the first place about your habits. We often eat and drink mindlessly, not really aware of its impact on our bodies or our earth. And we also often discard things freely - out of sight, out of mind. Because of that, the final step in this process is to find out exactly where your garbage is being taken. What happens to what you discard after you throw it away? This might be an exercise into which you want to draw your entire household. |
| On the Side... Use the Listening Prayer (downloaded from Step 2) to process your findings in this step. Let your intuitions be your guide, but pay attention to what your conscience tells you, and check it out with your group, your household, or friends. |
Please consider making a donation to support the work of this web site. We get by with a little help from our friends. Click on the candle to contribute. Thanks! |
| Two powerful resources Click on the cover to buy the book. A New Look at Prayer: Learning to Listen to Your Inner Guide by Bill Huebsch This carefully written e-book helps you recognize your own inner voice which leads to "right living." Driving the Speed Limit: Learning to Live Simply, Sustainably, and in Solidarity with the Poor by Bill Huebsch This e-book provides you with a road map (almost literally) to help you make choices which are both satisfying and in support of the common human good. |
