THE HUMAN & THE HOLY

~ Our Agreement ~

~ To be read slowly and aloud together in the Companion Circles
each time we meet ~

We are a Companion Circle.
Companion means “with bread.”
A companion is someone who accompanies another,
offering and receiving the broken bread of their lives
– nourishment from both the richness and the poverty of who we are.

A companion is kind, honest,
supportive, compassionate, and encouraging.

In this Circle we agree to honor each other
with our full attention
and to listen reverently.

This Circle is a safe place,
inclusive and hospitable.

We agree not to try to fix, rescue, or offer advice.
We agree not to argue, judge, dismiss, or interrupt one another.
We acknowledge that at times we will fail
so we commit ourselves to being patient with one another.

We hold all things spoken here as sacred and confidential.
We value the input of each person
and make sure that everyone gets a chance
to speak and be heard.

The centermost point of this Circle
is the beating heart of God
and the circumference of this Circle
is the embrace of divine grace.

In this sacred circle all persons are equal.
There are no experts,
only holy vagabonds on the way to becoming more deeply and fully human.

© Daniel J. Miller, 2011, revised 2015