Evolving Spiritually Is a Process
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ”
I read M. Scott Peck’s profound book The Road Less Traveled many years ago. Last week I decided to reread this marvelous book. For Peck, the purpose of life is “spiritual evolution.” Peck clearly defines what “supports spiritual evolution.” The more we challenge our faith through spiritual disciplines and reflect on our life choices, the closer we feel to our God.
The first step in Peck’s spiritual evolution is “Delayed Gratification.” Peck states, “You need to be willing to sit with the discomfort of the problem-solving process.” If we cannot resist instant gratification, we will never make much of ourselves or fulfill God’s call for our life. Peck also calls us to respect God through “Acceptance of Responsibility.” Accepting responsibility often requires us to delay gratification. Peck confirms that people who refuse to accept fault develop two types of mental illness frequently, “Neuroticism” and “Character Disorder.” “Neurotics feel responsible for too much, leading them to avoid commitment.” Meanwhile, “Character disordered people feel responsible for too little.” Embracing spiritual evolution requires the proper balance between feeling too much and too little.
The third evolutionary step is “Committed Honesty.” Honesty is not as easy to follow as one might think. We inherit our values or a diminishment of specific values. Honesty requires us to reevaluate our inherited values and learn to create ideals that reflect God’s expectations of us. Finally, “balance” completes our spiritual evolution. Balance “allows you to take a measured approach to your life.” When you can understand and embrace who you are and are not, you will become a responsibly faithful person. When you combine these four evolutionary qualities, you can take control of your life.
Today, evaluate your experiences with each of these four standards. When did delaying gratification work for you, and when were you unable to have control? When were you able to accept responsibility, and when were you unable to be reliable? Are there ways when you choose to be dishonest? What necessitated your decision? Finally, when was your life balanced, and when was it off-kilter? Answering these questions nurtures your spiritual evolution, which brings you into a deeper, more intimate communion with your God.
