Sunday March 14: Moving from Agony: Group Spiritual Direction

For March 14, I want to pick up where we left off last Sunday--and that was with the question of how? We agreed that words alone will not help us (as we read the scripture in which Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow because today has troubles of its own). One person mentioned prayer and community, and then I made a suggestion about group spiritual direction.
Troyanne has posted an interesting reading and some provocative questions that I've copied below. Let's begin with her reading and those questions, then move into the introduction for group spiritual direction. I have a handout on it.

From Troyanne Thigpen:

Dear Friends,

Here is an input I read this week that seemed perfectly appropriate for the discussion that we were having when I was last there two weeks ago, on Sunday Feb 28.  I hope you agree.  Please share with anyone not included on the addressee list;  for example, I don't have Don Burt's email address.

It certainly offers some ideas to consider.  For starters:
       (1)  This sounds wonderful, even beatific, but what exactly does he mean?
       (2)  What do you think of offering this approach to somebody who is suffering?  Would it be difficult to present to them?  Would it be comforting to them or perceived as unsympathetic?
       (3)  How does this compare with the traditional Roman Catholic idea of offering up our sins?

from Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity  March/April 2010, p.5

The Power & The Suffering, Donald T. Williams

       Every one of us has known a measure of suffering. The happiest and most successful person knows from experience the meaning of words like loneliness, fear, disappointment, rejection, and failure.  If we live long enough, we will add the death of loved ones, betrayal, ill health, and the feeling of uselessness to the list.

      Some people suffer bitterly;  some pitifully;  some grievously;  some needlessly;  all inevitably.  You cannot avoid suffering.  You can muddle through it blindly;  you can make it worse by rebelling against it futilely or you can understand it biblically and bear it redemptively.  Therefore, we need to learn the joy and privilege of suffering for the gospel   There is great power in suffering.  There is no more irrefutable testimony to the truth of the gospel than the Christian who bears suffering and affliction joyfully, without bitterness, with love.  For only God could produce this kind of spiritual reality, and without suffering, it could never be seen.

     I pray that God will grant us continued peace and prosperity and protect us from all unnecessary suffering.  But I also pray that when he does send us affliction, he will help us accept and understand it biblically, and bear it redemptively.