Reflective moments from Hearts on Fire
YOU ARE INVITED
Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation
By M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.
Expanded by Ruth Haley Barton
This spiritual journey as defined by Dr. Robert Mulholland, Jr. “is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.” After reading this book, I invited members of the congregation to join me on this journey. Knowing this is a process, we recognized this spiritual growth was not going to be immediate. The journey is continuous and occasionally challenging, but because we are on this pilgrimage together, we encourage each other when we reach these uncomfortable moments, on the way forward. The journey is a process of spiritual transformation into the image of Christ. Allowing God to do the transforming of you and you not taking on that role.
Dr. Mulholland describe four phases on this journey:
- Awakening – God revealing to us our unlikeness to Christ.
- Purgation – Bringing our behavior, attitudes, and desires into harmony with God.
- Illumination – The beginning of a manifestation of the image of Christ within us.
- Union – The continuation of yielding control of your life completely to God.
The partners on the journey with us help hold us accountable to the process. The comedian Michael Jr writes in his book, Funny How Life Works, “sometimes… we are so anxious to get to a destination that we overlook the importance of the process.” In the process God reveals us to us, and this is where the transformation begins.
In determining if your journey is successful, you much search yourself to decide if you are more loving, patient, caring, compassionate, and forgiving toward others. It is a self-examen into the depths of your heart. Then ask God to show you where you fall short of being like Christ.
I recommend this book for those who desire to deepen their life with God. But more importantly I recommend that you invite others on this journey with you.
Reflection by Ella DeDeaux, MA, MDiv, Spiritual Director, Secretary of FUMSDRL/Hearts on Fire
This reflection represents the view of the author.