Spiritual Formation 2

Posted by Jonathan Brink
April 4, 2008

obstacle.jpg

The shortest distance between you and your wholeness is through your obstacles.

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Conflict, Courage, discipleship, redemption, spiritual formation

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Viewing 4 Comments

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    Painfully true.
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    Jonathan, I've been mulling this over since yesterday and woke up this morning with this being my first thought: Is the shortest way necessarily the best way ?

    Last night I went to hear Dr. Bernie Siegel speak. He gave an interesting talk, but the one thing that struck me the most was when he talked about water. He spoke of how if it could push an obstacle out of its way it, would, but if not, it would go around it or over it, etc.

    Anyway, I'm just thinking that we in our Western mindsets think shortest means quickest, and quickest means the best way, but I'm not so sure. I know you were not saying any of that; I'm just sharing my stream of consciousness here as I processed it. Lucky you! Ha!
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    Tracy,

    I would actually suggest that God typically leads us directly to our obstacles when we follow. The spiritual formation process of Israel was out of Egypt and a short journey through the desert. Then into Canaan. They couldn't get into Canaan until they defeated the giants (obstacles) so they wandered for forty years.

    So much of the spiritual formation process is discovering our courage and the willingness to be strong in the face of opposition. King David was an example. A lot of Israel's journey was engaging war.

    Does God lead us in meandering ways, maybe. But I would offer that it is likely us that do the meandering and wandering, as he waits for us to engage our own restoration.
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    Yes, I thought of those scriptures as well. I've read previously that the actual trek through the desert should have been anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks (depending on what scholar you read) and instead it took them 40 years of wandering in circles, largely due to their unbelief and hardened hearts. Still, I think we Western thinkers have a somewhat distorted view of the entire concept of time.

    I think of the scripture in Luke that says, "And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. " We know he didn't start his ministry until he was 30 years old. Why not when he was 18? Or 21? I think we all still have something to learn about the timing of God. Of course, this didn't have to do with an obstacle being in His way, so maybe I'm stretching this too far.

    I guess where I stand is that I totally agree with what you've written in your last comment, AND I think sometimes His timing is not ours and we don't like that very much!

    Speaking of timing, the book still has not arrived and I'm stamping my feet impatiently, wanting to dig right in. :) Hubby just left to go to the post office--maybe today!
 

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