Franciscan Fractal
Contemplating Today’s Culture through the Eyes of St. Francis & the Life of Christ
“A Spirit of Self-Discipline”
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice,
but rather a spirit of power and
of love and of self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Seeing reality for “what it truly is” is not only frightening, but often overwhelming. We face senseless church and school shootings, massive global conflicts, environmental catastrophes, and political wars. On top of that, we address daily personal struggles, such as maybe the pain of growing older, with the inevitable outcome that affects everyone. There is no way around the truth of our societal and personal struggles, even as we attempt not to think about them. These events are enough to frighten anyone.
In addition, Christians are a minority in the world population. We see things differently, interpret life differently, and attempt to act differently than others in a fast-paced world. This frequently leaves us feeling alone. Following Jesus Christ may lead us to be labeled “odd” or “weird” by the standards of this world. Who would follow Jesus and be willing to give up all that they have for the life of another?
Being a Christian in our confused world often seems difficult, and even “cruciform” or cross-like in nature.1 The truth of the matter is that living each day can feel like you and I are being nailed to a cross. However, our experiences of darkness, failure, relapse, and even woundedness are really the primary teachers that move us into relationship with Christ. Reciting church doctrines are poor substitutes for learning about how God works through a person’s own experience.2
Facing life head-on, without running away from reality or pretending that life is other than what it is, is the only way that we can begin to see clearly the ultimate reality set before us. Accepting the “cross-like” nature of life, as Christ did, allows for our “dying to self” and experiencing the power of the resurrection in our lives. We cannot realize the transformation of the resurrection without dying to our old ways.
The Good News is that we are not transformed alone. Christ is the one that shows us how to handle, not only our “cross-like” existence, but also the joy of resurrection. Therefore, we do not need to be afraid. In Christ, we receive the “spirit of power, and love, and self-discipline.” This power is not like the power that we so often see exhibited in a world where one person dominates another. This is a power that flows from the center of a person who works quietly in love and also holds a spirit of self-discipline.
How does this work? Everyone has moments of encounters with God. These encounters can be experienced while taking a walk in the woods, looking at the sky, holding a furry animal, embracing anyone, witnessing the death of a loved one, or simply sitting in silence. It is a moment when time seems to cease; when we utterly stop focusing on self, and when all the world seems to be in harmony. It is a moment of “oneness” (total love) with God, self, and others. These are powerful experiences.
The problem with this “oneness” is that these moments do not last. And, they do not last because we succumb to resistance. We resist staying in this state of selfless love. We become afraid, overscheduled, distracted, and even doubtful. Our inability to deal with life with God overtakes us.
This is why St. Paul mentions that God gives us “self-discipline” in addition to the “spirit of power and love.” We need not be afraid or act like a coward when events of “oneness” disappear. These events may appear to be fleeting, but they become more and more frequent in our daily life when we practice self-discipline. Self-discipline creates a place where we do not need to resist God. In this silent place, the experience of “oneness” with God emerges.
If you are worried and upset by the chaos of events in the world today, ask yourself this question, “Am I governed by God’s spirit of self-discipline to regularly read scripture, meditate, pray, or contemplate in silence?” The church alone cannot do this for you. It is what God and you need to do together.
It is in the sacred space of God and you together that allows the “cruciform existence” of your life to be transformed into the experience of resurrection – a space that no longer can hold the worry or anxiety that has held you captive.
Self-discipline is a practice. God is doing God’s part. What might yours be?
Blessings and Prayers,
Fr. John
1Forde, G., (1997). On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518. Eerdmans.
