Want spiritual resilience? Try this...

I live near a Christian retreat centre equipped with a labyrinth made of turf. A labyrinth is not a maze. In a maze there is more than one path so you can get lost or finish up in a dead-end. If you like, a maze can picture life without Christ, choosing your own way and living with the consequences.

By contrast a labyrinth has been used for centuries as a metaphor of the Christian way. There is only one path through, you make no choices about your route, you will reach your destination if you just keep going.

Some years ago, during a season of confusion and disillusionment, I started to walk that turf labyrinth near my home. My intent was to re-live my life up to that moment and remember those who had formed me. Maybe, I thought, remembering where I have been will help me know where I am going.

An afternoon walk

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13v7).

That afternoon I set out to remember my walk with the Lord. I would walk the labyrinth and remember those who had helped me. Like Mr Eastman, my English teacher in grammar school. He knew I was an avid reader of science books and stopped me one day to give me a reading list he had prepared. First on his list was a book about archaeologists – lots of science – then there was some history, then a novel. Before long, he had me reading literature.

Then Mr Feltoe, the RE teacher who took us through the whole Old Testament in one term. A Bible overview back in 1966! Without Mr Eastman and Mr Feltoe I never would have read the Bible.

Each time I remembered someone I stopped walking and remembered my debt to that person, I gave thanks for them and then walked on.

There was Phil Arthur who led me to faith in Christ and began to teach me reformed theology. Peter Seccombe took it further steering a small group of us through the book of Romans. Oliver Barclay who taught me to look for the good in everything and be less critical. Nigel Lee taught me to share my faith winsomely and, like him, trust God to provide.

When I found myself pastoring a church for the first time Alec Motyer and Leith Samuel came alongside and helped me. “Hide behind the word of God”, said Leith. I’ve been trying to do that ever since. Alec helped me preach a series on 1 Samuel, meeting me every couple of weeks to talk it through.

Scaffolding

Our past is the scaffolding that supports our present. Isaiah said as much when he wrote, “Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many” (Isaiah 50v1–2).

It was a long afternoon because I had to remember so many people. But it had provoked my restoration. The problems remained, but my faith and fight had returned. Spiritual clarity drives psychological resilience, and that afternoon my clarity returned. God has a plan, I am part of it; let’s crack on!

We should all do this as a spiritual exercise every so often. You don’t need a labyrinth, just a piece of paper and a pen. It will help you to build your resilience before you might need it. You are anchored in the past, and the people who formed you are still part of your present. You are part of the formation of others.

There is more to come; who is going to shape you next?