Learning from our Reactions Along the Spiritual Path

Last updated on: November 3, 2017 at 5:01 am by Teresa Blythe

Learning from our Reactions Along the Spiritual Path 2017-11-03T05:01:57-08:00 Teresa Blythe

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.

There seems to be a universal pattern to life, including the spiritual path.

Action → Reaction → Learning

You can find this in biblical stories about Jesus’ healings. He heals a person, religious authorities have a fit over when he does it (Sabbath), and then Jesus has the opportunity to teach about the law of love being superior to rigid expectations.

Hebrew scripture scholar Walter Brueggemann found such cycles abounding in Hebrew scripture, especially in the Psalms. He calls the pattern[1]:

Orientation → Disorientation → Reorientation

For Brueggemann, the psalms of orientation were ones describing a status quo life; the ones of disorientation described being dislocated, lamenting the suffering of life; and the psalms of reorientation are writings of surprise, gratitude and joy concerning what God has done or transformed in life.

From my own experience and from sitting with many people in spiritual direction, I can confirm what Ignatius of Loyola wrote about in his Spiritual Exercises (though using much different language): We are most vulnerable to doubt and temptation right after a spiritually meaningful experience. That’s when our reaction can get us into trouble if we aren’t careful.

Spiritual “Push” (peak) → Counterpush (valley) → Understanding

Watch out for the temptation to doubt or to be carried away by “too much of a good thing” directly after you experience a spiritual high. If we don’t overreact during the counterpush; if we keep praying and accept the counterpush as part of life, we can learn how the Spirit works in us and deepen in our relationship with God. It sometimes helps to keep a journal of spiritual experiences to see how this works for us.

For some of us, this pattern appears as seasons of our life. We may have many years where we see, hear and feel God’s presence everywhere we look. Then, all of a sudden, “radio silence.” Our reaction tends to be, “Really? What’s wrong? How did I fall into this valley?” We risk becoming cynical, overly critical, even losing our faith. The diary left behind by Mother Teresa of Calcutta indicates she spent decades in this place of dislocation, disorientation, lamentation.

Ignatius encourages us not to lose faith. If we’ve made a decision during the good times with God, and if we know deep in our heart that the decision is solid, Ignatius urges us to stay the course. But if the decision “weakens, disquiets or disturbs the soul greatly,” he writes that we may have been too optimistic (or, in his terminology, deceived by evil).

This difficult part of the spiritual life requires patience. It’s all part of a discernment process of paying attention to our lives, our emotions and our reactions to life. If you feel you need help navigating these cycles or seasons, you might find spiritual direction helpful.

Want to try spiritual direction? I have openings in my schedule for new directees—regardless of where you live. I can work by phone, Skype or if you live in the Phoenix metro area we can meet in person. Contact me at [email protected] or visit www.teresablythe.net. Also visit my website for the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction.

It’s easy to subscribe to this blog and get updates in your email inbox. Check out the right side of the webpage and fill out the form under GET PATHEOS NEWSLETTERS. New posts come to your inbox when published.

Thank you for following this blog!

[1] “Psalms and the Life of Faith: A Suggested Typology of Function,” by Walter Brueggemann JSOT 17 (1980) P. 6-9.

Free photo courtesy of Canva.com

discernment

spiritual direction

spiritual discernment

spiritual discernment

spiritual path

Previous Post

October 17, 2017

Losing Your Religion: How Spiritual Direction Can Help

Next Post

November 6, 2017 Giving "Thoughts and Prayers" a Break

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent angels Anne Lamott Christmas church leadership clergy contemplation contemplative Christianity Desert Fathers and Mothers discernment election evangelicalism faith freedom guru healing interfaith dialogue Lent love Martin Luther King Jr media mind body spirit mystic Nativity nature new year's resolutions parables peace pluralism prayer prayer practices religious diversity resurrection Rules for Prayer Rumi saints sexual abuse spirit spiritual direction spiritual discernment spiritual mentor spiritual path spirituality stewardship Super Bowl terrorism theology transgender Uncategorized violence visioning vocation

Select a Month February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 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 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 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz