What are my Riverteeth?
Mini Solo
Contemplative time by oneself is sadly lacking in most people's lives today. Although individual
processing takes place naturally as people organize, assimilate, and integrate new experiences into
their view of the world, this process is often short changed in our hurry to be somewhere else. In
many situations, people are not afforded the luxury for reflection and introspection. As we start
this workshop I would like you to take some time ALONE to assimilate to this place, to listen to
God, and to prepare yourself for our time together. Let the stress of living “OUT THERE” melt
away as you pledge to be fully present “HERE” in this place for the next week. Let this place
become what Sigurd Olsen calls a listening point:
As I sat there on the rock I realized that, in spite of the closeness of civilization and
the changes that hemmed it in, this remnant of the old wilderness would speak to me of
silence and solitude, of belonging and wonder and beauty. Though the point was only a small
part of the vastness reaching far to the arctic, from it I could survey the whole. While it
would be mine only for a short time, this glaciated shore with its twisted trees and caribou
moss would grow into my life and into the lives of all who shared it with me.
I named this place Listening Point because only when one comes to listen, only when one
is aware and still, can things be seen and heard. Everyone has a listening point somewhere.
It does not have to be in the north or close to the wilderness, but some place of quiet
where the universe can be contemplated with awe.
As you take the next 20 to 30 minutes to acclimatize to this place and to our task, please
complete/reflect on the following questions/tasks:
1.
Read the summary below of what is a RiverTeeth by Duncan. Think about your own life
story and what you might be willing to share as one “river tooth” or significant story from
your life. Your story should communicate to the group “This is why I am who I am.” This is
a story that could be about someone, someplace, some event, or sometime that has been
extremely formative in your development. This storytelling will serve as an opportunity for
us to get to know each other better as well as an opportunity for you to examine what has
been and what might continue to be important to you in either your personal or professional
life. I would ask you to share a “Rivertooth” story with us when we reconvene.
David Duncan in his collection Riverteeth writes that while we are defined by our stories, most of our
stories of our days will wear away over time and that we will be left with only a few of what he terms
“Riverteeth.” To Duncan, our “Riverteeth” represent the experiences that occur in our life that most
mold and impact who we are and will become over time. Riverteeth are people, places, events,
seasons, experiences, and situations that have great impact on our life and sometimes tend to change
our direction or course. Many times, we do not control what become our own Riverteeth, they occur
by chance or surprise or slowly over time. Other times, our Riverteeth are a result of one major
decision or a series of small decisions that we do control. None the less, our Riverteeth are our unique
stories that most define and explain who we are and why we are here.
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Identify a short list of Riverteeth that you feel are strong stories from your life that are worth
telling.
Consider one or two of these stories. How have these stories made you who you are? If you had a
few minutes to share these stories, how would you choose to tell them?
Of your Riverteeth, what story has come as a surprise or seemingly by chance? What story seems
to be by your own choices?
Also, what spiritual moments can you look back on as your “Ebenezer’s” – an Ebenezer is a
monument helping the Jewish people remind themselves of what God has done in their lives. Who
are the people that know your story the best?
2. Think about how you might share some goals you have for the semester or have students
share a hope, a concern, and a fear about the upcoming experience.