What is my paradigm for spiritual life?
A basic definition of a paradigm is a structure or framework for a person or group’s perspective on an issue. As the definition implies, paradigms are meant to provide coherence, stability and direction. Loosely, they can be understood as a map, a means of establishing the general territory of ideas—the philosophies and theories about a given topic or issue.
So another way to ask the question is what map do I use to understand my relationship with God? Is it a map I create, a structure I define and control, or is it defined and controlled by Him? And, why does it matter who defines and controls my map? Or that I even have a map for my spiritual life? Isn’t it true that if I am a believer that I place all my hope and trust in Him? So, let Him do what he does best—drive, and I’ll look out at the scenery. Why can’t I just let it ride, and count on Him to take care of the details?
The reality for me is that too often those roles are reversed. I am in the driver’s seat, and I ask God for direction only when I am really lost. Whatever I do, too often I do it for the gain it will provide me, whether short or long-term. If I am honest, it takes a great deal for me to focus my intentions on the creator of the Universe, the omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient one. The way, the truth and the life. I treat God as if He were a gas station off an exit. If I don’t take this exit, there will always be another exit, and another opportunity to fill up.
This is the paradox of my life: when I follow my paradigm the people and events of my life become one-dimensional, brittle, and uninteresting. Because by definition my paradigm is a human and not a divine creation, it lacks the liveliness that His holy touch creates. Choosing His map, powered by the Holy Spirit, enables ongoing creation to be present. My map provides death to the moment and eternal death—separation from Him. His eternal map for me brings me into the role of co-creator, drawing on my unique personality, skills and gifts, whereas my moment-by-moment map effectively excludes Him from being my God; I become my own god, and thus my own worst enemy. When God creates, there is a depth, a beautiful complexity that life apart from Him cannot provide. God’s creations have an infinite number of dimensions, because they are ongoing. With His Holy Spirit-powered map my life has an ongoing depth and diversity that is available to respond to any circumstance, any person in my life. I become engaged in eternally exploring the wonder and glory of the Lord of the universe, my God, my redeemer. That is the eternal that is encoded in my heart and mind, making it possible for me to be described as created in His image.
