Why It's My Responsibility

Photo credit: Ladyheart from morguefile.com

I am currently taking a class on Spiritual Formation.  It is difficult to take a week away from my family and appointment, but it is a productive retreat.

The professor mentioned that while he was a pastor, he was only asked a few times how healthy his spiritual life was.  That statement gave me a reason to think about how many times that question has been asked of me.  I can't really count them, but I know it doesn't happen very often.  

I suppose that hesitation comes for two reasons.  First, the person who asks the question makes himself vulnerable.  In other words, if my spiritual life is weak, what ground do I stand on to ask someone else?  Just to ask the question is a scary thing.  Second, I think that for people like me who are in ministry positions, it is assumed that I am doing the things necessary to stay healthy on my own.  To ask the question could imply that the other person is failing in some way.

However, at the same time, there seems to be inadequate instruction as to how to maintain and grow spiritual health.  We are told that it is important to have daily devotions, but few specifics are shared.

At an earlier point, I privately bemoaned this neglect that I experienced.  I wondered why someone did not take the time to walk me through the process, to show me the way and to encourage me along the way.  I guess perhaps an assumption was made (or I didn't speak up enough about my shortcomings) that I knew how to do it.

I am making a new determination to give these instructions to those under my care, but I have to realize that, like me, at some point, must move on without someone holding their hand.

After all, while I did (and still do) need help on my spiritual journey, I must take ownership of my own spiritual growth.  

I remember the first car Beth and I bought.  Taking care of it was easy at first - fuel, car washes and oil changes.  But at some point, I needed the help of a mechanic when things started to go wrong.  I didn't sit at the side of the road whining about the fact that no one was helping me.  It was my car - I needed to get it to someone who could fix it.  It was my car - I needed to pay the bill for parts and labor to make the car "healthy" again.

In a similar way, it is my spiritual life.  Sometimes I need help, but it is foolish to wait for someone to notice and whine until someone helps.  I need to know when to ask for help.  I need to be willing to take the time and spend the resources to help my spiritual engine run and run well.

Are you willing to take ownership of your own spiritual life? 

Living Life in the Zone by Kyle Rote, Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew

As a man, are you tired of the run-of-the-mill devotional book?

This “40-day Spiritual Game Plan for Men” takes you through 40 topics that are important to men: their wives, children, work, relationship with God and plans for the future.

Each day’s reading follows a reliable pattern, including an introduction, several scripture verses that address the day’s topic, and examples from sports, entertainment or politics of the day’s principle in action.  Then the reader is challenged with tough questions and a way to apply the truth to his life.

As a man, I found this steady pattern to be intriguing and helpful.  The introduction shows that the authors understand the issues facing men.  It doesn’t sugar-coat the issues – from struggles with mothers-in-law to holding friends accountable, “Living Life in The Zone” presents the real issues, demonstrating an understanding of the struggles and challenges involved in life.

It was refreshing to see the examples at the end of each chapter; some were good examples, some bad.  It was clear that you can learn from both positive and negative examples.

I recommend this well-written book to any man who wants to take the next spiritual step but doesn’t want the typical devotional.