Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Emergent Village

Home
Progressive Christian
Transformation and Shadow Spotting

Transformation and Shadow Spotting

Last updated on: May 8, 2013 at 5:51 pm by Sean Graham

Transformation and Shadow Spotting 2013-05-08T17:51:50-05:00 Sean Graham

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do no notice the log that is in your own eye?” Matt 7:3 NASB. Most people have read this text as being about sin and our need not to judge. Which is very true, but there are other layers of truths to be found in this text as well.

What if the speck we see in another’s eye is actually our own log-sized issue? Let me explain. Jesus called it a speck for a reason. I think He was creating a contrast. When we notice some “sin” or “issue” in another’s life, we do not typically see that issue as a speck or some small thing. Rather, we see it as a big deal, perhaps a log, and where does Jesus say the log actually resides? In our own eye (life)!

Betty Ford has a great teaching called “Spotting our Shadow”. In this teaching, she contends that the things we hate in others are actually really our own shadow issues. I think Jesus, like Betty, would say let people be a mirror for us.

Those things that drive us crazy, or make us scared or angry, are affecting us because they exist in us and are parts of ourselves that we have rejected, denied or feared to be true.

So if you want to discover the areas of your life God is most interested in addressing and bringing some form of healing or integration to, we need only look as far as those character traits or behaviours that really bother you in others. You know those angry people, lazy people, liars, cheats, stubborn people, rebellious people, excessive people, etc… that we really don’t like. It is much easier on the surface to avoid Jesus’ teaching on this. The problem is, it is our resistance to this invitation that is sapping our energy for life.

What if all these issues that really bother you in others, you have in your own life? What if the energy you are expending to hate these things in others is really about avoiding yourself? The real you – not the bad you – the real you. The person God loves right now – exactly as you are – not as you should be, because you will never be as you should be.

Now I am not saying it’s okay to treat, or be treated by people badly, or be harmful or rude to others. But I am saying that we all have these issues at times. And the odds are pretty good that those things you dislike in others are very similar to the ways you may behave at your worst.

So what does transformation look like once we start spotting our shadows?

We will be open to others and ourselves in new and unexpected ways.
We will be less angry or frustrated with others and ourselves.
We will have less triggers and reactions.
We will have less stress in relationships, allowing a flow of authentic relating; because we see our issues, not theirs primarily. This will make us more humble and gentle.
We will be more accepting and compassionate when we see our shadows in others.
We will be more forgiving and willing to work through our relational issues.

How do we access these gracious places?

Accept the offensive truth that what we hate in others is really my own shadow, no matter how harshly we judge those things today.
Accept that resistance to our shadows only makes them stronger.
Accept that you are not a bad person, but a broken person.
Accept that God loves you as you are. And so can you!
Accept that sometimes we need help to break the cycles we are caught in.
Accept that some of our shadows will never be gone, but are simply a gift to keep us humble and kind.
Accept that the goal of perfection is the trap of idolatry, the rejection of grace and the core sin of Adam’s resulting condition: wanting to be what we were never intended to be – independent from God, and like Him, in power.

I know the next question for most of us will be, “Then what should I do?” The best answer I have for this question is: just LIVE! And trust God with your ability to recognize your own shadow and begin to allow people to be the blessing they were intended to be in your life.

Previous Post

May 7, 2013

Interview an Atheist at Church Day - Solomon's Porch videos

Next Post

May 9, 2013 Can I Trust?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who had a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Abraham Jacob Daniel Joseph