I am taking classes in order to be certified as a Spiritual Director. For those who do not know what that means or entails, it means I am being trained to come alongside another person who desires to deepen their relationship to God. I help people find those things within themselves that are blocking that relationship, to help people broaden their definition of who God is, and to offer a safe space for them to wrestle with their wilderness questions and doubts. Because when we do this deep spiritual work, we are in the wilderness, and we will come out of our encounters changed.
I use the “we” because the encounter over whatever period of time we take, be it months or years, will change us both. We are both being vulnerable together with God in our midst. Because that is the other thing we must always keep in mind, we are not two people together but three. As scripture teaches, where two or more are gathered, God is there in our midst and God’s Holy Spirit is there guiding and revealing.
I find it interesting as I both learn about the work of Spiritual Direction and do the work, that so many people think as Christians we stand outside “culture.” The problem with that thinking is that we are born into a culture that is a part of who we are as we grow, learn, and live within the culture of our birth. We can no more stand outside of culture than a fish can live out of water. It is the air we breathe. Then there is the simple fact that Jesus lived and breathed the culture of his day. Jesus used examples to teach people about faith and God that came directly from the culture. The culture around us forms us just as we form the culture by our choices and how we act on those choices.
What we hope and pray, particularly for those who claim the Christian faith, is that we are acting in ways that bring wholeness and healing into the world around us. And that is for everything not just for the people we may meet in our lives. Polluting our world is just as UN-Christian as treating someone disrespectfully. One of the worst things we can do is to judge someone for their choices. We have not lived their life. We have no idea what is informing their choices in any given moment. Our role in this world is to love. Our role is not to judge others. In fact, scripture is pretty clear about judgment NOT being our job.
I believe we do best when we know what our role, our job is and for Christians, our role in this world is to be salt and light. We are to love and care for and see the world as God sees it. Our hearts should break for what breaks the heart of God. And then use the gifts and talents God has given us to help right what is broken. And remember that our role is to help in the way that is actually helpful. So, it might not be what we think it should be. Through prayer and discernment, with God’s Holy Spirit, we can do what is best, even if it isn’t the solution we had in mind.
My post is a day late because yesterday was Labor Day. I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating what the people of this country have done to make jobs and workplaces safe.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 