Bike rides around the lake, dinner on the lake, boating on the lake, walks around the lake. Summer in Minnesota. Those of you who live in other parts of the country may not appreciate how big this is, but we’re hardy Midwesterners who have trudged through 50 mph winds at 20 below zero for nine months of the year and we pretty much refuse to go inside from June through August.
Even with less-than-ideal weather I’m obsessed with being outside. And if I get to be by water to boot it’s like winning the lottery (IF that was legal for Christians).
You’re probably familiar with Spiritual Pathways – the theory written about by Gary Thomas and popularized by John Ortberg that says that each of us have particular ways that we most naturally feel connected to God. Intellectual (through books), worship, relational, serving, contemplation, activism. and creation. Kind of like our “God love language”.
Well since mine is clearly nature I’d really like to think that that was Jesus’ pathway too. I mean, after all…
- the Sermon on the MOUNT,
- the calming of the STORM,
- the huge catch of fish on the SEA OF GALILEE,
- and the LILIES OF THE FIELD for Pete’s sake!
Fields, water, mountainsides, sun and sand! Jesus was an outdoor guy!
Now you might argue that this whole line of thinking is heretical. Jesus didn’t have a pathway to God because He was God, but He was also human and this is my fantasy so settle down.
“No way!” you say, “Jesus was an Contemplative like me! ‘While it was still dark he went by Himself to a quiet place to pray.’” But I would ask, “Where was it that He went to pray??”
Ha! OUTSIDE!
Or, you might argue, “For sure His pathway was relationships with others, just like mine is. He was with people almost constantly! He formed his own fraternity!” But, I would counter, where did he find His first disciples? OUTSIDE! By the sea!
So go ahead and try to make your case for Jesus having your spiritual pathway, but I think it’s a done deal. Jesus is just like me. And BTW I’m pretty sure He was a Meyer’s Briggs ENFJ.
What’s your spiritual pathway? If you haven’t explored this, take a look at
John Ortberg’s book, God is Closer than You Think (ch. 7) or take aspiritual assessment online.
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Laura, I love your passion! I love your enthusiasm for Jesus and how excited you are about Jesus' pathway is just like yours! I was reading this blog post and found myself getting more excited with each sentence! I will definitely be thinking about this today as I go back and forth between nature and relationships...although I think mine is for sure - hands down nature! I tend to find refuge in nature, am spoken to in nature, find HIS beauty and truth in nature, and am forever in awe and fearful of the greatness that nature encompasses. So, I guess after writing that last sentence, it's nature for me too :) So, you had me Laura at the title of your blog (just like in Jerry Maguire, you had me at hello) You, Laura, had me at "Jesus is just like me" because I think we all yearn to be just like him and yet we tend to think it's so far away, yet really we were made in His image and this post is such an awesome reminder of how we can be like Him, with Him, and have the same Spiritual Pathway - SO COOL! Thank you Laura...a much need Monday read for me. Bless you! - Alexis
ReplyDeleteLove it that you're excited and engaged! I'm cheering you on!! Hope you're getting good refreshing time at the cabin!
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