I had a few ideas for today’s post but I settled on the topic of finding our way in Christ. I have been re-working this website and although there is still no tangible success with the business side of things, I am convinced making God the focal point of the ministry is the right way to go. I had been doing the “right things” with my practice as a therapist, doing the evidence based techniques, using current theories and methods and really trying to get to the ground level of problems. it still didn’t feel accurate and validating. It felt like I was just doing the same thing as everyone else and by definition, I would just keep getting the same results as everyone else.
Beyond physical therapy, I believe this has personal application. We can keep doing the same things as everyone else but we are likely to get the same results. While we can look at others and maybe want what they have or look like or the life they lead. But for a moment, think of the people you really know. Maybe it’s only a handful of people or maybe it’s only one. When you really know someone, you know that their life and what they present to almost everyone is not all they are. There are things that are hidden, shut away, covered up and ignored. We all have wounds, scars, hindrances and shortcomings. This is why we need spiritual direction. We can’t save ourselves, ironically because of ourselves, so we need a Savior. We need spiritual direction.
Many times in the Bible the imagery of sheep an a shepherd is used to illustrate our relationship with Jesus. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11,14-15) I have no personal experience with sheep but they operate in a flock and will follow a leader. They can easily be lost or when a predator comes, they will scatter. For us predators are anything that separates us from God. We take our eyes off him and fall prey to pride and self-preservation, materialism, entitlement, or fear.
Yet God has come after us, showing his dedication to holding up His end of the relationship by becoming man to die for us. He did this physically once but continues to die for us spiritually; we need to just look at the cross. God is not limited by time and space and since we keep missing the mark of His love, we are constantly being redeemed. We can “know Him” by accepting the truth that God died to save us and when we are distracted or lost, admitting we are in need of spiritual direction and run away from the thing and run toward God. I need so much help in this area, often thinking I can do things on my own or that what I need to do is something for me instead of something for God. I will always need God to guide me. I can’t do this on my own.
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