The Spiritual Life is a Journey
One Thing You Need to Know Occasionally, people who know that I am a Spiritual Director ask me, “What’s the one thing spiritual se...
In the last post we began describing the spiritual life in terms of a developing journey, roughly divided into a “First and Second Half. In that model; one half of the Christian spiritual Life is guided and expressed primarily in external ways, the other half can a bit more interior and personal, difficult and prompting rediscovery or redefinition of faith. Both halves are critical to spiritual formation and entering the second is not a mark of moral or spiritual superiority. (God is simply inviting the soul into deeper relationship.
We observed that the transition from the first half into the second can be recognized, but not strategized, or forced. However, it can be unwittingly missed, or even intentionally avoided. And I mentioned that, excepting for a few pioneers, much of the Western church, has focused primarily on the first half of the journey..
We went into a bit more detail. If you missed that information, you might want to go back and read the first post.
We also said, that Like any trip, in the spiritual journey you need to know where you are going and where you are now. So you may be wondering “Am I in the first or second half of my spiritual life.” Great question!
Let’s start to answer by looking at some signs that might indicate you are at least nearing the transition to the other half of your spiritual life.
We’ve made a PDF Checklist of these. You might want to pull it up, follow along, marking which signs you’ve experienced. While I share them verbally:
Here are some of the signs:
Have you noticed yourself
● Sometimes thinking that there must be “more” than this to the spiritual life?
or wondering “Is this all there is?
● Observing public expressions of Christianity and thinking, This doesn’t look like what Jesus had in mind.
● Questioning your own interior experience?
● Longing for more tangible, personal Experience of God?
● Desiring Personal Integration, a faith that effects the whole self?
● Seeking interior peace and relational fulfilment more than material attainment?
● Feeling old, emotional wounds suddenly resurface unbidden, begging to be healed?
Are your days being marked by:
o Emerging Physical Diminishment, Pains or numbed disconnection with the body?
○ Wanting to get back to the way you felt with God before?
○ Feeling stuck or confused about how to move forward spiritually?
○ An urge to stop holding back even while Not Knowing how to move forward?
Do you find yourself:
o Sometimes just Going through the motions?
○ Living with a sense that you are not fully living, not living in true alignment with your highest ideals and values?
○ Wondering if Your life truly matters, if You make a difference?
○ Too busy with non-essentials to invest in the important people and moments of life?
○ Engaging self-distraction or self-medication through overwork, food, alcohol or other diversions?
Now total your results. Are you experiencing any of the changes connected with a transition into the second half of your spiritual life? more than one or two?
If so, you may find just acknowledging these changes brings discomfort.
Good news! While any of these may impact you, None of these discomforting changes are the real problem. They may not be a problem at all. In fact, they may simply be signs of God’s “Invitation” into the other half of the Spiritual Life.
A real problem might be that you haven’t learned to Recognize that invitation
The higher your score the more likely that God is inviting you closer.
If that’s you. Check out The Spiritual Life is A Journey Part 3 where we explore how to respond to God’s invitation.
See you there!
Next Video
In Spirit Mind Body course we put together 16 modules on The Spiritual Journey to help you understand Where you are and move toward where God is calling you to be in your spiritual journey.
I’d be happy to set aside some time to chat with You about your spiritual journey and see if the resources in the Spirit Mind Body Course might be a good next step for you.
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