I believe the central message of Christianity remains Good Friday, Easter, the Ascension and Pentecost. Death is God’s way to transformation and new life. I know it intellectually and dislike very much how it lives! My journey with Christ into what we now call “emotionally healthy spirituality” has three distinct, but overlapping, phases to it: 1994-96 – Emotional health and Spiritual maturity inseparable 2003-04 Contemplative spirituality integration 2007-08 Personal integrity/Differentiation. I don’t really understand this one very well since I am only now in its beginning, but I do know that it has involved, for me thus far, really grasping the crucifixion and death. As Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernal of truth falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (Jn. 12:24). Jesus is telling it like it is. If the seed does not die, there will be no fruit or grain. The issues of death for me have revolved around leading NLF with integrity, around confronting, around truth, around asking hard questions, around saying “no”, around getting so grounded in the love of God that my validation truly comes from Him and not others. It is easy for me to be distracted by growth in numbers and people’s excitement and pats on the back. I generally avoid crucifixion, dying, burial, decay. But God has met me -very graciously, slowly helping me discern between illusion that comes from the evil one himself and His voice. I know He is in this learning process and I also know that it is painful to grow up and lead, to stand grounded in Christ, to pause and think rather than react, to do the hard thing rather than the easy, to say “no” when I prefer to make others happy. There is a time to listen to one’s feelings and a time to not listen to them. I wouldn’t trade this season for anything. At the same time, death that leads to life is not “fun”. I, like many, “know” the cross leads to resurrection, but I am realizing that is very different than “knowing” in the embracing/receiving/taking in sense that I am learning now. I don’t wish it on you. But I prefer death that leads to life rather than death/pain/crucifixion that leads to only more misery because one is fighting it and casting it out. I have done the latter and I now finally, finally know it is a worse option. Do you know of any ways to get to resurrection without Good Friday? Let me know.
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Jun
