Categories: anxiety, study, self-esteem, spiritual-writings
Date: 21 May 2009 03:06:36
The Christian life has always been a struggle towards perfection. Yet the recommended modes of change have been very damaging, either metamorphosis, where the old self was expected to graft onto a supernatural level and become abruptly sanctified, or moral surgery, whereby the undesired dimensions of one's life were cut out. Such externalist violence is always resisted by the psyche's organic and inclusive spiritual instinct. Transfiguration is in harmony with the deepest rhythm of the soul because nothing is denied, excluded or forced. Attention is focused reverently on the whole complex of one's presence. In light of this reverence towards one's self the places of entaglement, limitation, blindness and damage gradually reveal themselves in ways that suggest and invite changes in the configuration of one's heart. John O'Donohue, 'The Priestliness of the Human Heart', 45As I said to the presenter after this was read in last night's Reading the Classics - St Gregory of Nyssa's "The Life of Moses", this paragraph was worth, to me, the price of admission alone. It struck me so powerfully. It resonated so deeply within me. It spoke to me of damaging ideas I have: abrupt change being one of them. Damaging because an abrupt change, in the spiritual life particularly, has led to a quick fall back to where I was, or even lower, soon after. The idea of transfiguration as a way forward, as a way to focus on on this journey towards perfection in Christ the Christian life calls us to, gives so much, and offers so much, more. Unlike the angels we have a body; unlike the animals we have a soul: we are a unique creation. And it is easy, for me, to fall into Gnostic tendencies of spirit = good; matter = evil. But that is wrong: we are called to be transfigured, transformed, body and soul -- the entirety of our being. And to work on one without recognising or acknowledging the other in one's journey is setting oneself up for failure. [In my humble opinion: I, as always, welcome any thoughts, disagreements, etc.] It also speaks to me at a time I am feeling as though, as I commented on Facebook [and thank to those I know there for your comments of support, love and prayer], the dragons I thought I slayed have been raised up again. Thanks be to God I am doing well, and a conversation today has helped greatly too -- so please do not worry. It was just a bit of a shock to face these issues again. I pray I may perhaps seek to transform and transfigure these, to deal with them in the proper, full way, rather than an abrupt cut-off which is what I had done previously, and which has clearly not laid them to rest. Through your prayers, and through the Grace of God, and His Love, Joy and Peace, may it be so. [On the topic of healing, I commend to you Tractor Girl's most wondrous post for your reading. It spoke, more eloquently than I can, of some of my struggles too. Thank you TG.]