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May 7, 2010 Read: So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear... we love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16-19 From Richard Rohr's The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective: "When God speaks, it is first of all profoundly consoling, and as a result demanding! Anybody who has walked with God knows this. There are two utterly different forms of religion: one believes that God will love me if I change; the other believes that God loves me so that I can change. The first is the most common; the second follows an experience of personal indwelling and personal love. Ideas inform us, but love forms us - in an intrinsic and lasting way. God is always willing to wait for the lasting transformations brought about by love." Think About: As Rohr describes, the Enneagram is "another of the endlessly brandished swords of the Holy Spirit and, like the Spirit of truth itself, will set you free." So this tool looks at nine ways of being and becoming, of working with the Holy Spirit who nudges us to become all that God had in mind when he breathed us into being. It helps us to look at ourselves at our best and at our worst, at the "me " we become under stress and in insecurity, and it leads us to understand where and how we need to grow. This is a tool that is used by spiritual directors/guides/friends who journey with you to help you "notice" how God is coming to you, to help you listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, and to respond with slow growth and change and maturity. If you are feeling nudged along this path, I would encourage you to seek out a spiritual friend to journey with you. Ortberg, in encouraging us to recognize the pattern of sins most tempting to us, i.e., "signature sins," says that this is one of the most important steps in our spiritual lives. He names the nine types of the Enneagram, briefly describes each, and describes the struggles and challenges of each type. Although we are usually a mixture of types, there is always one, two, or three that predominate. The nine types are: Reformers, Servers, Achievers, Artists, Thinkers, Loyalists, Enthusiasts, Commanders, and Peacemakers. Which of these do you feel drawn to? Remember, God goes with you on this journey. You are not alone! Pray this Prayer: Dear God, I want to grow into becoming my best me, the me you dream of my being. Give me the courage to wrestle with the me that I am now - as Jacob wrestled with the angel to discover his new name and identity - and the wisdom to choose the right path. Thank you I love you and count on your journeying with me. Amen. You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Easter Devotional Blog. We are on this journey together and your words may help another along the way. Having problems viewing this page? Click here to view it online. Click here to be removed from the Daily Devotions © 2010 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
