We welcomed a puppy into our family last year. The family, especially the kids, was really excited about this. But, as you might imagine, the kids underestimated their excitement about how much they would need to pitch in to help train the puppy and take her outside!
This reminds me of the slow work of spiritual growth. The struggle and pain of growth and feeling as though we are getting nowhere gives way to the great joy we experience over a spiritual breakthrough. But this joy is tempered by a return to the seeming slog of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is a cycle–up one day, down the next, and up again. We have to choose to stay in this game and cycle through it.
I had a breakthrough conversation with Aaron, a friend in Sarnia. I had helped a homeless couple with shelter and food, which led me to want to meet more folks who were homeless. So I bought some loaves of bread, lunch meat and cheese, and a case of water and went down to the park to look for homeless people whom I could invite to have lunch with me.
When Aaron found out, he "warned" me (his word) about not giving money to homeless people because they use it for drugs and alcohol. I told him I had a strict policy of not giving money in those circumstances, but I did want to share lunch with them if possible.
Aaron’s eyes took on a weird look and he asked why I would want to do that. He wasn't critical; he was almost compassionate. I could tell, behind his question, that he was struggling to understand why someone like me would care about someone like "them." So I shared with him one of my core values, that there is no us/them mentality, that I'm trying to live according to the values and priorities of Jesus as I read them in the Gospels, and that anybody can pick up the Gospels, read them, and try to follow Jesus. We had a very good and engaging conversation.
Aaron would not identify as a follower of Jesus. And yet, in the time that we've known them, both he and his wife, Susan, have reduced the amount that they swear, Aaron has drastically reduced the amount of beer he drinks (going from, on some days, a dozen beers per day to, on many days now, not even one), and they have shown tremendous hospitality towards us. They are moving through a cycle of spiritual growth, drawing nearer to God as they process their lives, up some days but down the next.
This is what spiritual growth looks like in the real world. We have to be willing to let go of the illusion that spiritual growth means we are always in a good mood, always having good things happen, or always feeling close to God. There will be many days where we struggle. If I’m honest, there are many days that I do not feel close to God. But I believe the gospel, and the promise of the gospel is that God is close to me, in Christ, whether I feel it or not.
Spiritual growth is slow. Breakthroughs come rapidly, but mostly after long periods that feel like we are slogging through mud. We need to hang in there, taking the good with the bad, knowing that the reward of spiritual growth is the relationship with God that comes through perseverance.
The Slog of Spiritual Growth
Yes spiritual growth can be slow. It makes me think that’s why it is a spiritual life that we are living. It’s spiritual moments that create movement, transformation, and change. I appreciate your thoughts they have been very encouraging, thoughtful, and helpful.