NCD Discipleship Resources
Discovering One's Spiritual Style
I began working through the Three Colors of Spirituality book about a week ago, and reached the place of taking the spiritual style inventory a couple of days ago. I learned to my surprise that my native style is Rational, leaning toward Sensory (making my opposite style Ascetic--it is also surprising, therefore, that my second highest score on the inventory was Ascetic (!)).
I am two days into the 28 Days... discipline, working the Rational style. I have learned through this discipline that using rational approaches to spiritual questions is indeed a SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE, that brings me into the presence of God and brings me (eventually!) peace. I never realized this before. For the past thirty years I have been trying to jam myself into a Mystical style, because I had been led to believe that this is the only valid approach to God. Also, my denomination, out of panic over declining numbers, is currently ramming a Sharing style down everyone's throat.
Discovering my native style, and its effect in bringing me peace, has been liberating beyond words. Right now I am content to rest with this knowledge at "Level A." I don't expect to stay here long, though.
Peace,
Ken
Comments
Hi Brooke, Thank you for your
Submitted by Ken Moody-Arndt on Sun, 07/11/2010 - 12:01pm.
Hi Brooke,
Thank you for your kind words!
Peace,
Ken
That is great news. Is it not amazing what we do when we take our thinking out of things and let Gods plan and love and vision for us shine through. I was not so amazed with my native style, I am a blue through and through more enthusiastic than mystical. I am also a BIG rational as well. Which makes for a very intresting combo I must say.
I am always amazed and saddened by the need for everything to fit into pretty boxes, which goes on everywhere, even in church. I am sorry to hear that you feel as though your church is forcefully focusing on the sharing style. All styles are needed and must be respected in a community for it to truly thrive, although that may be hard to see at times. Often it is easier to see where the 'weakest' style is and focus there, which is where I am guessing the force fed sharing push is coming from.
Keep faith my friend, God is so very very very good, and has a way of working things out.
Blessings, Brooke