The Revolution Continues

Sheila and I finished our series on spiritual formation this morning. We called the series Revolution of the Heart, borrowing a phrase that Dallas Willard used to describe the process. When you teach a series that attempts to re-focus our attention on the very thing that ought to be seen as the central purpose of our faith - it’s a little difficult to say that its time to "move on" to something else.  In that sense, I hope the "revolution" continues in all of the things that happen at Highland, and in our small class, over the coming months and years.

 

Sheila - who has this day been my wife for 17 years - shared some things about her experiences in losing her mother and father before our time of meditation and prayer this morning. She pointed out that - sometimes - we are so consumed by anxiety and grief that a systematic, intentional pursuit of discipleship is just too much. In those times, "holding on" is about all we can do. But even in those times - maybe in those times more than any other - God comes to us and forms us.

 

Just another example of how her perspective has enriched a series of lessons that otherwise would have seemed a lot more sterile and academic. I'm so glad she agreed to do this with me.

 

We concluded the morning with smaller groups that prayed about our spiritual formation. It was powerful listening to all of the voices in all of the groups in our classroom: strong male voices, trembling female voices, soft voices of elders, all blending together to lift up our cry to be formed in the image of Jesus. Sheila compared it to listening to the "wish radio" in the movie We're Back. It also reminded me of all of those prayers you could hear at once at the beginning of It’s a Wonderful Life.

 

Even five minutes after class was supposed to be over, everyone was oblivious to time as they continued to pray. It was one of those neat, intimate moments where the touch of the Spirit could be felt in the room.

 

What a privilege it is to be in a class with these people.