We take a look at The Critical Journey theory by Hagberg + Guelich, which looks at the external + internal spiritual journey. We weave in a lot of Peter Scazzero's Emotionally Healthy Spirituality theory, and how important that perspective has been.
"You can't be spiritual mature if you're emotionally immature."
Pete Scazzero
The Critical Journey
Drawing upon this classical vision of the Christian life and drawing from the work of James Fowler's seminal Stages of Faith, Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich, developed a stage theory model for the spiritual journey that they call "the critical journey."
6 stages:
First 3: the "external journey"
(1) Recognition of God—a believer first encounters God and experiences the life of faith;
(2) Life of Discipleship—one engages in the disciplines and practices of their faith;
(3) the Productive Life—one moves towards a productive and active life working for God.
Next 3, Inner Journey
What do you think it ends with?
(4) Inner journey, doubts and disappointments, loss of previous structures, church may not make sense
DESIRE LINE!
(5) Journey outward, toward others, freedom to be, no need to prove their faith or earn anything
In love, submitting to God's perfect love
We see love is all in all
(6) Life of Love, union with God
"For most of us the Wall appears through a crisis that turns our world upside down. It comes, perhaps, through a divorce, a job loss, the death of a close friend or family member, a cancer diagnosis, a disillusioning church experience, a betrayal, a shattered dream, a wayward child, a car accident, an inability to get pregnant, a deep desire to marry that remains unfulfilled, a dryness or loss of joy in our relationship with God, a building permit denied by the community for the fourth time."
Peter Scarzerro
"The Wall experience", Hagberg and Guelich explain, "is the place where psychology and spirituality, converge."
Ignatian Spirituality "Finding God in All Things"
Check out this article on Ignatian Spirituality
http://jesuits.org/spirituality
You can't be spiritual mature if you're emotionally immature.
Pete Scazzero
Matt 23:26
"First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too."
John 1:1-5 (NLT)
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
With Spiritual Development, what you're going through, isn't chaos. It makes sense. Anything that brings up fear, or the unknown-- trusting God and seeking Union with HIM is what gets you through.
