I’ve been studying spiritual development this Summer, and came across this lovely excerpt from a recent reverend!

(Spiritual aging…word from Reverend Shoehorn on spiritual maturing.)

“The spiritually mature person is increasingly concerned to be moving in union with the character of Christ. Not just His teachings, but union with His Being, His Nature, His characteristics.

As you get older, you want more of His character, you are less focused on his Power, though it is also available. You want to enter, what Paul calls “The mystery of Godliness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) That becomes your primary goal; it’s primary fruit is love.

With spiritually mature people, you sense the fragrance of His character in them. They are less in “docrinal confrontation or a conflict mode”, less arguing with life, or reacting against it, and more into exuding Love—care, gentleness, kindness, service, safety, gentleness etc…Having the character of Christ becomes the hallmark of their spirituality.

St John had a blessing for the more mature: blessed are you, for knowing God. No longer for overcoming, but for knowing, dwelling in and with Christ. The mystery of godliness is Christ incarnate in us.

I’ve noticed this, in the spiritually mature, they are no longer in competition with me or others or themselves, they have dissolved into the mystery of godliness. What a beautiful person then, to be around. The fragrance of Christ’s character fills the room. How pleasant to be near them. We need these people around us in life, and we should be becoming such people.

In some sense, as you age spiritually (not just in years, but in formation) you become less religious and more spiritual, and in that sense, more useful to the world.

If you look at spiritual maturity as a trajectory, these at the later half of growth, are the safest and most fruitful people to know, and bless the earth, the most.”

It is wise to seek out, those who are further along in the forest of Being than yourself. I love being with and studying those who are farther along than myself, more formed, more childlike in their maturity! Fun hanging out in the spiritual forest with them this Summer!