Transformed Changes and changing

“Self-worth is not created, it is discovered.”  (Richard Rohr)

We do not recognize ourselves, just as we did not recognize Him. (1 John 3:1)

What is so insignificant about being created in the image of God that we would pursue the understanding of it so little? Our worth is not in what we achieve or put our efforts into…it is a dictate. As a creature, our value is dictated by our Creator, and it is most amazing that He created us in His image…a reflection and representation of Himself for the rest of creation. Very cool.

I have been studying the “Enneagram” quite a bit lately. It has been an enlightening (albeit sobering) undertaking. On one hand I am discovering that I have more that is broken within me than I realized (which grieves me), and on the other I am finding articulation for much of the struggle that wreaks havoc with my emotions…or should I say “emotions which wreak havoc…”?

The Enneagram (info here: 9types.com…or alternatively “The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective” by Richard Rohr) is helping me to understand that I am not alone in my internal battle over self; all of us have an ruling party and official opposition within…sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. It is also helping me to see the eventual outcome of the choices I could make. There are basic routes we can choose in our journey: to withdraw, to attack, and to stay humbly engaged. The first two make it impossible for us to receive or extend true love…only the latter offers this opportunity.

Transformation is all about growing the capacity to receive and extend love.

All we have as creatures comes from our Creator. All our efforts to live on our own  remove us from drawing on the life-giving energy and love of the Creator. As we continue in our own efforts throughout our journey, with an honest assessment, we eventually arrive at a place of disgust with ourselves. We cannot be the good we want to be on our own. (Am I alone in this?)

We need a greater love…we need true, deep, authentic, rich, energizing, empowering, sustaining transformation. The kind of transformation that can only flow from the Creator…not a form of Him captured in religion…but rather the source of all life, directly…in the person.

I resolve to pursue this at all cost, for I have been close enough to the edge to see that anything short of this will only end in the destruction of life.

Posted under Transformation

If the only reason that we would want transformation is to become a better version of who we are, would this be too subjective? Better than what? Better than who? How much is enough? When do we run out of compelling motivation?

I am wondering if there is only one thing strong enough to motivate transformation…

What if we truly came to understand our Creator’s love? What if we came to understand the intensity of His broken heart; a suffering He has chosen to endure over our decision to walk away from Him. (Gen 6:6) What if we took a small step of surrender, to allow Him to work in us to will and to act according to His purpose (Phil 2:13), to have an opportunity to further what He began in us when He first breathed life into us (Phil 1:6). It would seem from this perspective that it would not be about us at all…but rather a Creator’s right, and our privilege.

As a creature, we are actually obligated to the Creator…its really too bad that He allows our hearts to keep beating as we walk away from His presence. Otherwise it would be explicitly clear that we were obligated to stay close to our source of life.

He allows us to choose. That is the basis of love. Love then becomes the only truly compelling motivation for transformation…it is not about our desire to transform to be a better version of who we are. It cannot be that we transform ourselves apart from Him. It is more about surrendering in love to LOVE, and allowing the Creator to complete what He began…His desire is transformation; to complete what He began…we simply return to the source of life, and allow Him.

Would the loving, broken heart of an omnipotent Creator be enough to compell us to surrender to His transformational work in our lives? It seems that this is His desire, His gift to bring us to a place of intimacy with Him, a place of fullness… (John 10:10)

Posted under Transformation