Depth Psychology

Carl Jung, founder of the field of analytical psychology, is best known for developing the concepts of introversion and extroversion, archetypes, and the collective unconscious. He wrote extensively about the connection between psychology and spirituality.

“The main interest of my work is not concerned with the treatment of neuroses but rather with the approach to the numinous. The fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences you are released from the curse of pathology.” (C.G. Jung. Letters)

Numinous is defined as that which is spiritual or supernatural.

According to Jung, ascending  to the spiritual levels of our mind enables us to be released from pathology and neuroses.

“Among all my patients in the second half of life—that is to say, over thirty-five—there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life. It is safe to say that every one of them fell ill because he had lost what the living religions of every age have given their followers, and none of them has been really healed who did not regain his religious outlook. This of course has nothing whatever to do with a particular creed or membership of a church.” (Jung)

Note that Jung does not advocate any particular religion. What aspects of a ‘religious outlook’ aid in psychological healing? And why is it more effective in the second half of life? Perhaps a certain amount of life experience is necessary before one can attain a spiritual perspective.

“The decisive question for man is: Is he related to something infinite or not? That is the telling question of his life. Only if we know that the thing which truly matters is the infinite can we avoid fixing our interest upon futilities, and upon all kinds of goals which are not of real importance… The more a man lays stress on false possessions, and the less sensitivity he has for what is essential, the less satisfying is his life. … If we understand and feel that here in this life we already have a link with the infinite, desires and attitudes change. In the final analysis, we count for something only because of the essential we embody, and if we do not embody that, life is wasted…. (Jung)

Many of us make the mistake of ‘fixing our interest upon futilities’ and then leaping to the conclusion that everything is futile. However, if and when our spiritual senses are awakened, we seek out the infinite and incorporate the essential into our lives.

When asked about his faith at the age of 80, Jung responded:

“All that I have learned has led me step by step to an unshakable conviction of the existence of God. I only believe in what I know. And that eliminates believing. Therefore I do not take his existence on belief – I know that he exists” (Sands 1955, p. 6)

May we all know God rather than merely believe in His existence. May we develop spiritual sensitivity. May we recognize God’s essence in everything.  

Thanksgiving

Top ten things I'm thankful for this year:

10. Books/Online resources
9.   Home
8.   Security
7.   Peace
6.   Time
5.   Discernment 
4.   Health
3.   Authentic Friends
2.   Family
1.   Grace

Searching for Understanding

"Human walking is a unique activity during which the body, step by step, teeters on the edge of catastrophe." (paleoanthropologist John Napier)

The human ability to walk on two legs is remarkable considering that we are top-heavy and our base is narrow compared to our vertical height. Yet, most of us take walking for granted. We have all fallen down while walking or running. Most of the time, this is due to inattention, exhaustion, sickness, or inebriation. We realize that our power to stand up and move forward requires coordination, balance, and strength; one factor, that we often forget about, is gravity. This is because most of us have experienced a loss of physical equilibrium or endurance, but not the absence of gravity.

People who don’t know about gravity can still walk, while those of us who understand gravity still fall occasionally. Belief in gravity does not prevent one from stumbling. Similarly, belief in God does not preclude catastrophe.

Faith is not insurance against suffering. Some may ask: then, why bother believing in God? In fact, why do we seek to know about anything which we are not able to control or fully comprehend? There seems to be something in our makeup that seeks understanding and meaning beyond earthly pleasures and distractions--a craving that remains unsatiated--which keeps drawing us toward the Omniscient.

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” (St. Augustine)

Hope Unswervingly

Whether you are riding a bike, walking a tightrope, or merely standing on one foot, it is easier to keep your balance when you are focusing on an unmoving object. Most of us use this same principle to find balance in our lives. We try to keep our eyes on some fixed goal in the future. However, when our plans go awry, we stumble.

Goals are based on what we think we can do under our own power. Hopes require participation with God. Often, our prayers are centered on asking God to implement our vision or desires. We would like God to join us in our plans instead of participating in His Vision.

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” (Proverbs 29:18 MSG)

When we focus on the unchanging God, our movements are steady. A good way to start each day is by asking: “God, what are you up to today? Can I join You?”  This way, we can partake in God’s sphere of influence--which is surely a more stable plan than whatever goals we can come up with.

“Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. (1 Cor. 13:13 MSG)

Intercessors

Like most moms, I have a built-in radar for children who look lost. I will be walking through some public place and see a kid who looks alone and lost. I will go up to them and ask: “Do you need help finding your Mom or Dad?” Most of the time the kids nod their heads in assent. Sometimes they look at me suspiciously. Some of the really young ones may have not yet realized that they are lost.  I usually just wait with them. I try to keep them from wandering any further into danger. Since I am taller than most children, I can usually spot the frantic parent before the kid. I wave and smile, and the parent rushes in with relief.

Actually, I am drawn to people of all ages who are lost.  I have personally experienced the pain of separation from our Father. This has instilled an empathy for others in the same situation. I feel compelled to wait with them, to protect them from straying any further, and to pray for them. Intercessory prayer is similar. In a way, it’s like waving at the Father as He frantically rushes toward His lost child.

“An intercessor means one who is in such vital contact with God and with his fellow men that he is like a live wire closing the gap between the saving power of God and the sinful men who have been cut off from that power. An intercessor is the contacting link between the source of power (the life of the Lord Jesus Christ) and the objects needing that power and life.” (God’s Transmitters, Hannah Hurnard)

Sin is defined as anything that separates us from God. We all have attitudes and behaviors that cause us to wander away from our Father at some time or another. No one is immune from this, but our unworthiness need not keep us from being intercessors. In fact, our experience of pain and separation helps us recognize others who are lost. It cultivates empathy, alertness, and patience. It allows us to be the link that connects those in need with God’s power and grace.

Inspirited

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed by life’s struggles?

Some of us choose to ruminate over each tiny detail of our problems. We brood over it; we stew on it; we get worked up over how little control we have over it. Others prefer distraction--we find something else to occupy our minds so we can put off thinking about our problems. Numbing ourselves with addictive behaviors is a common distraction technique. Neither rumination nor distraction seems therapeutic. There must be a better way!

We could try to equip ourselves with the tools to handle life’s stresses. We could learn coping mechanisms. Yet, these techniques are equivalent to having a few hand tools after a natural disaster. It’s better than nothing, but its value is limited. What we need are power tools and a generator.

What if we were inspirited and animated by a higher power that is better than anything we could produce on our own? What if we had access to this power but we were unaware of it? What if we continued to use our manual, (human-powered) tools--striving, struggling, exerting--but with very little progress?  

Lord, help me to stop this stupid striving. Please take over. Empower me with your Spirit, fill me, guide me, and use me.

God-confidence

“You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence, it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.” (1 Corinthians. 11-12 MSG)

Self-confidence is based on our individual capabilities. Beauty fades, bodies weaken, relationships dwindle, finances falter, health declines, and minds deteriorate. Relying on self-confidence is equivalent to building a house on shifting sands. The view is great...until the storm hits, the soil erodes, and the house falls apart.

We have to base our confidence on something/someone that is more reliable than ourselves--a higher power that is changeless. It might seem easier to manage our lives when we operate within our own capabilities, but this is merely an illusion. We may be able to control things temporarily when all is well. Yet, our self-confidence crumbles as soon as disaster strikes.  Fear takes control, and we can no longer function.

“When we trust in Him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.” (Ephesians 3:11-13 MSG)

God-confidence allows us to be free and bold. It is based on something beyond our own powers and circumstances.

“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” (Hebrews 11:1-2 MSG)

God-confidence is the backbone that supports everything that makes life worth living.

Meditation

Many Christians are wary of practicing meditation because of  its association with Eastern religions. Yet, meditation in the form of contemplative prayer,  has always been part of the Christian tradition.

“At the heart of the Gospel is Jesus saying, "I and the Father are one."  The early Christians understood this as a call to enter into Christ's divine oneness with the Father...And they sought to experience this through meditation and prayer. Christian meditation is way of experiencing God beyond what the ego can grasp or attain. It's beyond thought, beyond memory, beyond the will, beyond feeling.” (James Finley)

My attempts at meditation have not been very successful as of yet. My mind wanders, or I fall asleep. I haven’t  learned to stay in a meditative state for very long. Yet, even the few moments of calmness I have experienced make me want to keep trying.

I’ve tried the age-old techniques of repeating a word while focusing on my breathing. I have also tried to meditate while keeping my body moving--during running, crocheting, or practicing yoga. None of these have worked well for me.  

What has worked? Being still and silent--body and mind.

I warm up by focusing on a word or phrase--(I like to use short snippets of scripture, or simply the word: Jesus.)   Then, I stop completely and just listen for God. I go through a variety of emotions--agitation, contrition, awe. Occasionally, I have a feeling of being lifted up into a oneness with God--followed by an overwhelming desire to stay in this state of being forever. Sometimes, I get a nudge to do something specific or write something down.

Here is what I have discovered about meditation from my limited experience: It allows us to go beyond the clutter of our superficial mind and access our higher consciousness--where our spirit comingles with God’s Spirit in a state of deep intimacy.

Daily Retirement

Every evening, after the dinner dishes are cleared, I retire to the privacy of my bedroom. I try to finish my chores before dinner, so that I can have this time for rest. I withdraw from physical and mental activity. I crave this period of seclusion at the end of each day.

16th-century Spanish theologian, Francisco de Osuna, writes thoughtfully about contemplative prayer. He uses the term recollection (instead of contemplation or meditation)--because the practice involves collecting the scattered parts of your unconscious mind. In order to do so, he suggests that you  “retire into your heart and leave all created things.” (Third Spiritual Alphabet, Francisco de Osuna)

Doesn’t it sound inviting--to take time each day to retire into our souls, temporarily shutting the door to all our concerns, so that we could spend time with God? Stillness allows us to recollect misplaced truths, to recall buried mysteries. It leads us to a deeper consciousness of the indwelling Spirit of God.

Paycheck

Have you already made plans for next month’s paycheck?

Most of us are counting on future paychecks to pay off bills, make purchases, etc. We are anticipating that we will stay healthy enough to work, and that our jobs will continue to provide us with salaries and benefits. We know that thousands of people become disabled and unemployed every month. Yet, we put deposits on new houses and vacations based on the conviction that these scenarios are unlikely to happen to us. Is this confidence grounded in reality?

According to Dallas Willard: Faith is confidence grounded in reality. It sees the reality of the unseen or invisible, and it includes a readiness to act as if the good anticipated in hope were already in hand because of the reality of God.

We act as if we will always have the power to generate income, even though statistics show that our presumptions are not based on reality. Yet, at the same time, we hesitate to depend on God, because we think that what is unseen and invisible is not real. Our jobs may have been providing paychecks for several years, but God has been providing for us for generations: air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, shelter from harshness, healing, safety, guidance, love...Just look back at your own life thus far and trace how God has brought you through impossible situations. If you imagine that all of this is random or because of your own ability and hard work, then your confidence is not grounded in reality.

Follow the Leader

It is more tempting to follow our own senses or the most attention-grabbing voices than to trust God. The following Sunday school activities illustrate this point:

A few kids are blindfolded  and asked to follow the leader, who is the only one that can see. The blindfolded kids have the option of holding on to a rope that the leader is also holding. As the kids are led through uneven terrain, filled with obstacles, they might be tempted to let go of the rope and feel their own way, relying on their own senses rather than trusting the leader. Another version of this  activity is to have one blindfolded child follow the voice of the leader, while a bunch of other kids shout out misleading directions. This illustrates how difficult it is to keep listening to the Voice of Truth, rather than the distracting, noisy voices of deception.

Although the above activities are meant for young children, it points out certain tendencies that I still have as an adult. Mostly I rely on my circumstances, my powers of reasoning, and my feelings. These things are somewhat within my reach, yet transitory and less than dependable. But, when the going gets tough, I revert back to old familiar habits.

“It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us?” (2 Cor. 5:7 MSG)

Lord, lead us not into the temptation of following our own logic, or feelings, or the chorus of misguided voices. Help us to put our complete confidence in You and You alone.

Bridge of Grace

Grace is subtle and easy to overlook. It is part of  human nature to imagine that most of the good in our lives is due to our own talent, hard work, or luck. If things don’t work out, we are more likely to blame our environment, genetics, or the government.  If only we could recognize the evidence of God’s grace throughout each day! It would help if we had built-in, spiritual detectors that gave a signal every time we encountered grace.

According to Dallas Willard, grace is :“God acting in our life to bring about, and to enable us to do, what we cannot do on our own.”

There is a gap between what we are able to do under our own power and what can be accomplished under God’s power. Grace is the bridge that spans this gap. Trust and Love are the two towers that support this suspension bridge.  And just as a long bridge over a wide river or canyon is much more obvious than a short bridge over a creek, grace is more evident when the gap is bigger.

Grace shines through in the midst of helplessness, hopelessness, and suffering. Even then, if we are not expecting it, not looking for it, we might miss it. So often, we are so focused on the pain and powerlessness that we become oblivious to everything else, including how God is working.  

Finally, we have to stretch beyond our abilities, hope for more than what we deserve, in order to activate grace. As long as we are content to operate within our own power, we don’t need it.  So next time I feel completely helpless, I shall wait expectantly for the bridge of grace.

Root Stimulants

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 NLT)

Mature trees with deep roots are more likely to survive a drought than newly-planted trees with shallow roots. When I plant a tree in my yard, I know I have to water it for the first few years, especially if there isn’t much rain. However, the trees that have been around for several years are not dependent on humans or the environment for sustenance. They draw nourishment from a deep, consistent source, and thus can flourish even during dry seasons.

Certain trees, like the willow tree, tend to put down deep roots quickly. They naturally produce a hormone called auxin that encourages cell growth and strength in plants. Gardeners have figured out that they can use the willow tree to influence the growth of other trees. They make willow water by cutting up a few thin willow branches, bruising the leaves and buds, and steeping everything in boiling water. This willow water can then be used as a root stimulant for other trees.

Some individuals are like willow trees. They are blessed with natural stability and depth. God can use them to influence others, but the process involves some bruising. Yet, it also exposes their essence--the source of their strength--a deep-rooted trust in God.

Good Words

“If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!”(Jer. 15:19 NLT)

Good words can lead to positive changes. Worthless words  merely add to the existing chaos. In the midst of a highly charged situation, good words rarely come to me; so, I try to keep quiet. Unfortunately, this doesn’t prevent others from expressing harmful ideas that lead to negative consequences. I try to wash my hands of any responsibility. I tell myself that it’s not worth arguing over. I get away from the conflict, if I can.

When I disengage, I am not influencing any positive change; instead, I am being manipulated. When I don’t stand up and speak good words, I inadvertently aid and abet the bullies.

Lord, grant me YOUR good words at the right time. May I not be coerced by bullies. Instead, help me to be a positive influence in the midst of chaos.   

Spiritual Fasting

According to Dallas Willard, fasting is equivalent to “Feasting upon God. Being nourished by God.”

If I prepare a well-balanced, nutritious meal for my family, I don’t want any of us to fill up on unhealthy snacks before we sit down for the main meal.

What do I normally fill myself up with, instead of God?

-busyness

-other people

-distractions

Mental fillers, rather than physical junk food, decreases my appetite for soul nourishment.

This leads me to another question. What’s the difference between a filler and a pre-meal appetizer? An appetizer should stimulate your appetite for the real meal to follow, whereas a filler dampens your interest.

What stimulates my hunger for God?

-emptiness

-deep thinkers

-nature

Fasting from fillers keeps me yearning for real nourishment. My soul feels hollow; there is a sharpness to my spiritual hunger pangs. Instead of pacifying myself with junk, I want to wait and feast upon God.

Step-by-Step Directions

When I’m driving through unfamiliar places, I use my GPS. It gives me step-by-step instructions. I am much better at  following a map than I am in following  auditory directions. I often miss my turns, because I am paying attention to something else at the exact moment that my GPS is speaking. I’m too busy talking or listening to somebody else or getting distracted by the radio, etc.

I frequently ask God for clear directions.

“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NLT)

I wonder if I’m not hearing God’s step-by-step directions because I’m too busy paying attention to my own voice or other distractions. There are long periods of silence when I am  supposed to just stay the course--these are the times when I’m tempted to distract myself the most.  My mind is rarely still. Even my quiet times are filled with reading, writing, thinking, and praying (which mostly consists of me giving God directions--in the form of requests).  Complete  stillness feels unproductive. But, if I’m missing my turns and driving the wrong way, that is counterproductive too.

In order to hear God’s directions, I have to  get comfortable with silence, emptiness, and total stillness.

The Locksmith’s Assistant

Many of us have been incarcerated without being aware of it. We were imprisoned--by depression, addictions, bad relationships, abuse, debt, physical or mental illnesses, fear, pain, ambition, greed, the desire for approval, lust, poverty, violent environments, oppressive governments, hopelessness, etc. Some of us are still in bondage.

Blessedly, we know a good Locksmith who can get us out of these prisons. Once He gets us out, we can assist Him to get others out. We can follow him as He works--handing Him tools.   

Sometimes, I assume that I am ready to rescue people on my own. After all, I’ve been in similar situations; I’ve watched the Master at work; I could probably go out on my own.  This has never worked for me. I always get stuck and have to call in the Master. I am not meant to be the Savior. I shall remain an assistant--a good, faithful, available assistant.

Choosing Sanity

The ‘Insanity workout’ has been popular for the last few years. I am relatively fit for a woman in her forties. I exercise daily. Yet, I decided to pass on the ‘Insanity workout’ mainly because of its name.

Whenever I have a choice, I choose sanity.

You would think that this would be a no-brainer; I mean, who thinks: I need more insanity in my life? Yet, we all make insane choices. Even though we have sound minds, we make senseless decisions and follow foolish delusions.

-We trust people who are not trustworthy.

-We spend more than we have.

-We don’t save for the future.

-We make commitments that will likely force us to neglect previous commitments.

-We claim that our children are our biggest priorities and then have surrogates care for them.

-We choose materialism, ambition, and fleeting popularity over--peace, sincerity, love, and contentment.

Oftentimes, we don’t have a choice--we are caught in the chaos of other people’s insanity. But when we do have the power to determine our own course, let us choose sanity.

The Discerning Samaritan

(cont.)

In the last post, I wrote about the need to steer clear of craziness. However, what about being a good Samaritan? Shouldn’t we try to help all fractured people?

If I see a strange guy with a flat tire on the side of the road, I don’t stop to help. I wouldn’t know how to fix my own flat tire, so there wouldn’t be much point. Now, if I saw someone I knew in the same predicament, I might pull over--just to keep them company until help arrived. Unless I knew, from prior experience, that this person was harmful in some way.

How can one distinguish between a wounded person and a crazy person? Every individual is wounded in some way. Yet, not all are dangerously crazy. Wounded people are seldom entertaining. Truly wounded people are too weak to pull us down to their level or to injure us.

In our attempt to be good Samaritans, we sometimes try to help people who are beyond our capacity to help. We might be motivated by good intentions or just an inflated savior complex. Often, we get pulled down into the ditch in our attempts to help. We are likely to injure ourselves and those who are traveling with us. This is why it is important to be discerning Samaritans--those who help the truly wounded, while still keeping themselves and their loved ones safe from danger.