Three young men once approached St. Francis of Assisi asking for his blessing to become hermits each living separately in a cave and devoting their lives to seeking God, each in his own way. Francis gave his blessing commending them for wanting to live as spiritual hermits but he instructed them to be hermits together in a single hut or cave. He offered this additional instruction: one of them should take on the role of a father; the other, the role of a mother; the third should think of himself as their child. Then every few months they were to exchange roles feeling what it was to be in a community as a father, as a mother, as a child.
Consider what insights would emerge if, in our significant relationships, we swapped roles. If you’re a man, what would it feel like for you to be in the female role or, if you’re a woman, what would it feel like for you be in the male role. How would your understanding and, possibly appreciation, deepen if, from time to time, we all placed ourselves into the position of another person, walked briefly in their shoes, experienced their pressures and stresses?
Consider what insights would emerge if, in our significant relationships, we swapped roles. If you’re a man, what would it feel like for you to be in the female role or, if you’re a woman, what would it feel like for you be in the male role. How would your understanding and, possibly appreciation, deepen if, from time to time, we all placed ourselves into the position of another person, walked briefly in their shoes, experienced their pressures and stresses?
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