A Commitment to Abide
A devoted commitment to knowing God, self, and others requires what Eugene Peterson calls “a long obedience in the same direction.” I like this phrase because it speaks to the reality that abiding on this journey never ends and always begins. This is the Alpha and Omega of the eternal Christ who orchestrates the evolutions of faith moment by moment, day by day. And it is the work of the abiding Spirit within that continues to construct, deconstruct, and reconstruct our lives. What is it that gets reconstructed within us? Just about everything — our attitudes and desires, our spiritual practices, our relationships, careers, possessions, the place we call home, the place we call church. We exist in a constant state of change, growth, orientation, always beginning again which is why the call to abide comes with some challenges.
A regular commitment to spiritual direction encourages me to abide with another devoted pilgrim with heart, mind , and spirit turned toward God as we meet together. Some see spiritual direction as a tool to use like a crowbar, to pry us out of a bad spot, or as a prod to get unstuck so we can move on. But meeting together isn’t just about figuring out life and faith and then saying it’s all done. Spiritual direction is a devotion to that long obedience and the slow work, even when we don’t perceive progress. Paying attention to the on-going new mercies and faithfulness of God in a once-a-month meeting, never gets old. This “tending the Holy” by regular habits of abiding has the potential to utterly transform a life not only today but may set us on a new path tomorrow.
How have you made a commitment to abide with God, self and others? Who are the fellow pilgrims on your path who encourage you in spiritual growth? Are you curious about exploring a spiritual direction relationship? Find out what it’s like by scheduling an introductory session with me here, or send me an email to set up a convenient time to talk. I look forward to hearing your story and meeting you on the way.
