Disorientation

This past year I have struggled to find my footing at various times.  I felt disoriented as I sought to find God in my new reality. There is a short book by Walter Brueggeman called, Spirituality of the Psalms, that has been most helpful for me shaping my faith journey over the last months.  Brueggeman wrote that our spiritual journeys are composed of three on-going movements:  orientation, disorientation and reorientation.    He wrote that folks on an intentional spiritual journey move between the three components throughout their lives. I was reminded of this helpful framework in my Companions in Christ small group.

With the Psalms as his backdrop, Brueggeman writes that scriptures of orientation provide the present reality.  This would involve our lived out practices and theology.  Orientation provides comfort in its stability.  Disorientation occurs when "our certainties about life seem seriously undermined, if not completely shattered" (Companions in Christ, p. 18).  Finally there is a point we move to reorientation.  Reorientation being the new meaning and focus points that guide our life and its practices.  I find this a helpful framework in which to explore my life and spiritual journey.

Currently I am moving out of disorientation to reorientation.  Disorientation can bring new meaning to life practices.  I am grateful for the journey.  Amidst the pain and growth, there is life.  I invite you to think about where you are in your spiritual journey.  Which movement are you in today:  orientation, disorientation or reorientation?  Take some time to reflect.

On the journey,
Alecia