How can we separate ourselves from the world and still have an impact upon it? How can we be in the world, but not of it? How are we to be transformed without being conformed? Every way your turn, there are books about spiritual transformation, and others telling us this is what is needed. Paul says it is the only way, "to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do (Rom. 12:1-2)." So, of course, that is what we want.
But, how do we get there?
I spent the day retreating to the woods, reading a book, "The Way of the Heart," by Henri Nouwen. In it, Nouwen tells of the "desert fathers (and mothers)" who were determined not to be tainted by the influence of their world, to such an extent, they retreated to live in the desert. Spiritual guidance they believed they were given is also good advice for us to follow. Abba Arsenius believed that God told him to "flee from the world and you will be saved." And so, Arsenius left Rome and sailed to Alexandria to live a solitary life in the desert.
Now, I am not advocating we sell our house, buy an RV, and move to Death Valley. But, I think the counsel is still applicable; we need to flee, to get away from the world. Fleeing is essentially about finding a place of solitude, a place away from all the distractions of the world, to create conditions whereby transformation can take place. Nouwen goes so far as to say, that it is out of this type of experience that "real ministry flows."
In the vernacular of the psychological community, most of us are living in the FOG. We do what we do out of Fear, Obligation, and Guilt. "I am afraid that if I do/or if I don't, something bad may happen." I do what I do out of obligation, because I should or have to... "I will feel guilty if I do/or don't..." If you don't think any of these apply to you, ask yourself why you do the majority of what you do. If the answer isn't because you want to, then most likely you are motivated by living in the FOG, afraid of failure, being judged, wanting to have other's approval, needing affirmation, or some other wrong motivation. Is it any wonder so many in ministry are frustrated, angry, depressed, stressed and burnout? We need to flee from the world.
We need to flee from the world and run right into the arms of our Savior, the one who approves of us, loves us, refuses to condemn us, and calls us His friends. It is when we spend time alone with Him, we experience the purpose He has for us, and the value He has placed upon us. It is there we discover His will for us and the direction He has for our lives and our ministries.
Too often we are tempted, as Jesus was, to be relevant, to be spectacular, to be powerful. In solitude, Nouwen says, we find our true identity is found in our relationship with God. When we are able to experience that, we are more open to allowing Him to transform us, to make us more like Him, in His image. Nouwen writes, "We have, indeed, to fashion our own desert where we can withdraw every day, shake off our compulsions, and dwell in the gentle healing presence of our Lord."
Flee!!
Godspeed, Phil
But, how do we get there?
I spent the day retreating to the woods, reading a book, "The Way of the Heart," by Henri Nouwen. In it, Nouwen tells of the "desert fathers (and mothers)" who were determined not to be tainted by the influence of their world, to such an extent, they retreated to live in the desert. Spiritual guidance they believed they were given is also good advice for us to follow. Abba Arsenius believed that God told him to "flee from the world and you will be saved." And so, Arsenius left Rome and sailed to Alexandria to live a solitary life in the desert.
Now, I am not advocating we sell our house, buy an RV, and move to Death Valley. But, I think the counsel is still applicable; we need to flee, to get away from the world. Fleeing is essentially about finding a place of solitude, a place away from all the distractions of the world, to create conditions whereby transformation can take place. Nouwen goes so far as to say, that it is out of this type of experience that "real ministry flows."
In the vernacular of the psychological community, most of us are living in the FOG. We do what we do out of Fear, Obligation, and Guilt. "I am afraid that if I do/or if I don't, something bad may happen." I do what I do out of obligation, because I should or have to... "I will feel guilty if I do/or don't..." If you don't think any of these apply to you, ask yourself why you do the majority of what you do. If the answer isn't because you want to, then most likely you are motivated by living in the FOG, afraid of failure, being judged, wanting to have other's approval, needing affirmation, or some other wrong motivation. Is it any wonder so many in ministry are frustrated, angry, depressed, stressed and burnout? We need to flee from the world.
We need to flee from the world and run right into the arms of our Savior, the one who approves of us, loves us, refuses to condemn us, and calls us His friends. It is when we spend time alone with Him, we experience the purpose He has for us, and the value He has placed upon us. It is there we discover His will for us and the direction He has for our lives and our ministries.
Too often we are tempted, as Jesus was, to be relevant, to be spectacular, to be powerful. In solitude, Nouwen says, we find our true identity is found in our relationship with God. When we are able to experience that, we are more open to allowing Him to transform us, to make us more like Him, in His image. Nouwen writes, "We have, indeed, to fashion our own desert where we can withdraw every day, shake off our compulsions, and dwell in the gentle healing presence of our Lord."
Flee!!
Godspeed, Phil
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