Christian spiritual formation or discipleship
is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of
others. Active processes within spiritual disciplines applied in Christian formation
are invigorated by six “R’s” - read, reflect, ruminate, record, respond, and renew.
Simply, our ongoing Christian formation is , the experiential interactive
development in intentional engagement with Word and Spirit through “ruminating
disciplines.”
“We need to listen
and reflect on our experiences in the
presence of the Holy Spirit to learn from
them”
Ruminating disciplines have a way of
paying attention to our lives . . . way
of knitting the vast ball of our experiences into something with shape that
attests to the state of our soul.
A brief list of
“ruminating disciplines” embraces . . . - Bible reading
- Meditation
- Reflecting
- Prayer (especially the “Prayer of examen”)
- Retreat
- Worship
- Theological reflection
- Journaling
Ruminating leads to recording . . .
"What's God going to say to my
questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan
the horizon. I'll wait to see what God
says, how he'll answer my complaint." (Habakkuk 2:1 - The Message)
Reflecting on Ruminating and Recording – especially journaling
. . .
- If I live my life at full tilt, when and how do I reflect on my life and its experiences?
- How does writing help you focus or know what you think?
- If writing is not a medium you enjoy, what other ways might you process and reflect on your experiences in the presence of God?
- What is it like for you to read someone else's published journal?
- How does the thought of someone reading your journal strike you?
- To be alert to my life through writing and reflecting on God's presence and activity in, around and through me
- Journaling is a tool for reflecting on God's presence, guidance and nurture in daily comings and goings.
- Journals can be kept regularly or during time of transitions.
Journaling - Yes,
but how?????
Take three and a half minutes to
“take-in-the-testimonies” on the video clip . . .
Adele Ahlberg
Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us.
Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2005, p.56-58.
Simon Chan. Spiritual Theology: A Systematic Study of
the Christian Life. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1998,
p.155-158, 180-185.
From SSPP Seminar session #6
No comments:
Post a Comment