The Christian life is transformation, being formed in the image of Christ. This does not mean that we are to live Jesus’ life as he did when he walked the earth. Rather we are to live our lives as Jesus would. Like Jesus says “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

Romans 8:29 states that the ultimate goal of the Christian life “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” We are to become bearers of Christ. Paul writes:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

A number of versions of the Bible include the word “beholding” in this passage, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (English Standard Version).

We can learn a number of things about transformation from this passage. Paul writes that with unveiled faces we will reflect God’s glory. Earlier in 2nd Corinthians Paul said that Moses veiled his face so the people would not see its radiance after he beheld God (3:13). We are permitted to reflect or behold God’s glory uninhibited. These words imply more than a passing glance. They imply contemplation. Moses’ face was radiant when he was in the presence of God. So, too, as we contemplate and dwell with God we are transformed. Paul says in 3:16 that our veil is removed when we turn to God. Notice, also, that Paul says that we all are being transformed. Additionally, we are told that Christ’s likeness is ever-increasing glory. This suggests that transformation is a process rather than a one-time change.
There are a few approaches to transformation that I want to mention. The 2nd Corinthians scripture focuses on a mystical or meditative approach, being transformed to more closely reflect God’s image by contemplating God and dwelling with God. There is unity that arises in the intimacy of beholding God. Disciplines such as prayer, contemplation, partaking in the sacraments, worship and celebration, compassion, silence and solitude can help us walk this path. Another route is through a “less-is-more,” ascetic approach. This route focuses on simplicity and discipline to enable us to encounter ourselves and to strip away the things that keep us veiled, both from beholding God and from sharing God’s light with others. Disciplines such as abstinence, silence, solitude, study, and humility can strengthen us along this route. Another path is through piety. Through devotion and faithfulness expressed through charity, good works, confession, and witness we develop our capacity to encounter and share God’s holiness. Practices helpful to this method include participating in religious rituals, doing charitable work, making confession a regular part of our prayer life, and sharing God’s ability to transform our lives with others.

I wanted to mention two practices that I have found to be beneficial. I have come to think of it as  lectio divina (spiritual reading, for an introduction to the original practice of lectio divina click the link) applied to daily living, spiritual reading of everyday living. The idea is to focus on reading the Spirit behind and within situations that we encounter on a given day, just as the practice of lectio divina focuses on reading for the purpose of encounter God’s message. This practice involves allowing ourselves to encounter life, to reflect on what we have encountered noting a particular event or exchange that grabs our attention, inquiring about how encounter speaks to our lives, and then listening to God’s invitation expressed through the event.

All of these aspects and practices can be beneficial, and it has been my experience that each route and each practice strengthens the others. I mention the different approaches to highlight the variety of ways that we can encounter God. Also to emphasize that what is important is not the particular approach or methodology but intentionally being in God’s presence. It is God who transforms us.

Even when I have had a strong sense of what needs to happen next or in what direction I should go, everything often falls in place to allow me to take those next steps just in time.

Henri Nouwen talked about lessons learned from a circus troupe, specifically a group of trapeze artists and how they were a metaphor for trusting in God as the ultimate catcher. The metaphor applies to this topic too.

The trapeze “flyer,” the one who will leap off his bar and be caught by the “catcher,” cannot leave his bar when it looks safe to do so…when the catcher is in place to catch him, because if the flyer does, then the catcher will have moved to a different spot by the time the flyer gets to the targeted spot. The safest move is to release from the bar before the catcher arrives at the spot, so that the catcher arrives just in time.

My sense is that we, as a planet, as human beings on spiritual journeys (or spiritual beings on a human journey, if you prefer) are moving into a new time where new ways of doing things are needed. We are taught that being prepared is a virtue, and it is, but so is honoring uncertainty and trusting that God will provide…that bridges will be built as you cross the body of water, not necessarily days and weeks and months earlier when you’re trying to decide if it is safe to make the trip.

I have always been fascinated by the gymnasts who can jump and twist and flip, all without falling. The gymnast who isn’t willing to risk, can’t really be a gymnast. Besides the courage to risk, the gymnast must have discipline to practice and to build skills to new heights of difficulty. To be successful on the balance beam, the gymnast must also be present. Lose focus and concentration and it’s easy to let gravity take over and the fall begin. The balance beam has a lot to teach us about life.

The times in the world are such that they require that we be the best of who we are in order for each and all of us to survive and thrive. Let us rise to such a challenge.

1. Energy orientation–Introverted (get recharged from inner world, imagination, time alone or with a few close friends) or Extroverted (energy from outside world, people and activities).
2. Information gathering–Sensing (five senses) or Intuition (hunches, patterns, possibilities).
3. Values in decision-making–Thinking (logical, rational) or Feeling (consideration of emotions and others).
4. Way of interacting–Judging (structured, closed-ended) or Perceiving (open-ended, flexible).

There is a lot of information about the different types and theories that is available to better understand this and the link above goes into more detail.

Seems to me that different personality types would have preferences for different types of spirituality. For example, extroverted individuals would likely prefer more group interactions and fellowship, whereas an introverted individual might prefer a silent retreat or more time for reflection. People with a preference for sensing might especially like to walk a labyrinth or experience God in nature, whereas an intuitive might especially appreciate a religious symbol or ritual. A thinker might be interested in the scholarly writings or to ensure that his or her belief system was logical, whereas a feeler would want to be engaged emotionally in the experience. Those with a preference for judging would do well with a regular spiritual discipline, whereas those with a preference for perceiving would rather sense the Spirit and go with the flow.

The creators of the MBTI are careful to point out that type should not be used to stereotype people (just because you’re an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t like a good group discussion or that if you’re an extrovert you can’t handle a silent retreat), but perhaps personality type is another area where we could customize spiritual formation to some extent, provided we don’t lose the balance needed for wholeness.

In the latest episode, the Doctor is traveling with two friends to the not too distant future. He arrives at a remote drilling station. It turns out that there are reptile-like creatures living deep underground who perceive the drilling as an attack on their civilization and send warriors up to the surface of earth to seek revenge by wiping out humans and conquering earth. As the warriors are very close to reaching the surface, the Doctor has gathered the few townspeople at the church. He instructs them to start gathering certain items that he’ll be using to defend against the attack. One of the ladies brings a number of weapons. The Doctor instructs her to put the weapons back. He will not use those to defend the attack as he doesn’t want to escalate the situation. He’s not opposed to using force, but he likes to use cleverness and preserve life if there is any way to do so. In another exchange, a little boy asks the Doctor if he has seen monsters before and if he is afraid of them. The Doctor smiles at the boy and says “I’m not afraid of monsters. They’re afraid of me.”

Later in the episode, the Doctor has captured one of the reptile creatures. He goes to what would be used as an interrogation room and he asks her what her name is. He then takes off her scary-looking mask and tells her that she’s a beautiful creature. He says how impressed he is with the technology that her society has developed, but that—sorry—he can’t let them destroy humans. After all, humans are such a spectacular race. He must leave the creature with the townspeople because he has to go into the earth to negotiate for the release of a few people who were capture—hostage negotiations. He leaves the townspeople with strict instructions that not only is it in their best interest to take care of the creature—that’s their bargaining chip—but also that no one has to die today and that this situation calls for them to act out of the very best of who they are so that disaster can be avoided.

Doctor Who acts compassionately towards the underground creatures. He saves the humans. He calls them to be the very best of who they are because that is always, always, always what is needed most. In some ways that reminds me of the scripture from today.

I believe that we are called to be fireflies, not moths. We are not supposed to isolate ourselves from darkness and keep trying to break into the light, like moths do when they keep flying into a light. We are supposed to carry the light of Christ into the darkness. We are called to light the night.  

Luke 8:16: No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

We are called to remember that Christ is not afraid of monsters, they are afraid of him. Christ is not concerned about storms on the path. They obey him. There is no place where we can be outside of God’s grace and providence. There is no place too dark, not to be transformed by the light.

The Community of Christ website describes the focus of ministry for teachers as follows:

As a Minister of Presence, the Teacher, committed to Jesus Christ and the cause of the Peaceable Kingdom, will model ‘Jesus as Peacemaker’ when expressing his or her ministry of reconciliation with individuals and families in the congregation and community. (www.cofchrist.org/aaronic/TeacherMinistryPlan.doc)

Teachers are social/community ministers who are called to be peacemakers and ministers of reconciliation in order to spread peace in the world and promote relationships based on joy, hope, love, and peace. Teachers are encouragers who promote the worth of persons, build peace, and reconcile conflicts.

Duties for teachers as listed on the Community of Christ website are as follows:

• Promotes the development and nurturing of a healing, redeeming and prayerful environment.
• Is sensitive to the needs of the congregation.
• Encourages participation and inclusion of all to share in the blessings of community.
• Serves as an advocate for home ministry.
• Respects each person and expresses compassion for their life journey.
• Helps individuals build positive self-images and self-esteem.
• Partners with Evangelists to provide ministry that empowers spiritual development.
• Assists persons in building relationships based on love and acceptance.
• Fosters development of positive communication and interaction.
• Promotes awareness of peace and justice issues in the church and community.
• Promotes an environment that is ready to listen and slow to criticize.
• Is available for ministry should conflict arise.
• Encourages the use of trained individuals to address conflicts. (www.cofchrist.org/aaronic/TeacherMinistryPlan.doc)

When I think about the ministry of teacher, scriptures that speak to peace come to mind. These scriptures point to peace as being both internal (within people) and external (between people and creation). As examples:

Leviticus 26:6:

I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.

Philippians 4:4-4:8:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Although Section 163:2a-3b of the Doctrine and Covenants applies more broadly than only to teachers, I believe that this section reinforces the importance of the ministry of teacher as one who embodies these words and who helps people grow into these words:

2 a. Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of salvation.

b. Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.

3 a. You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness.

b. Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.

Teachers can create pathways for peace by encouraging communication, education, spiritual formation, expansion of comfort zones, and reconciliation and forgiveness.

Communication, when done well, is a valuable tool in the peace process because it enables people with different views to better understand each other, share information, and alternative perspectives. Inherent in this suggestion is the need to dialogue with people who have different views, skills, and experiences. Intrafaith, interfaith, and multi-disciplinary discussions as well as dialogue that includes people from different cultures, age groups, genders, and any other differences that one might be able to think of, have a great deal to offer. Diversity can be a wonderful pathway to holistic understanding when approached humbly and respectfully.

One of the steps our denomination has taken towards dialogue has been to host peace colloquies where people from many different religious traditions can gather to discuss ways to cultivate peace. Many other religious denominations and service organizations have peace-building initiatives that involve communication and dialogue. However, it is also important for us, as individuals, to communicate with others in a way that upholds the worth of whomever we are communicating with, shares our views and knowledge respectfully, and listens to the other person’s views to see what we can learn from what has been shared. Another possible outcome is for increased communication and dialogue may be preventing or de-escalating conflict.  Communication builds relationships and provides opportunities to discover common ground or alternative solutions such as verbally working through disagreements rather than resorting to physical or psychological violence.

Education and training in the research and practice of peace-building is another important step that can be taken in the pursuit of peace. Learning more about reconciliation ministries, conflict transformation, and conflict mediation are some examples. Teachers can become a facilitator or find people who have expertise in this area to help with identified problems in the communities in which the teacher is involved. Discovering church and community resources is a good way to start. (http://www.cofchrist.org/peacebuilding/cr-terms.asp).

Scholarly research from a variety of fields including peace psychology, sociology, conflict transformation, education, history, religion, economics and political science can all be useful for understanding the multiple contexts of peace and conflict from individual peace of mind to disputes between nations. Understanding conflict and peace in local and broader contexts has become crucial to making sound decisions that actually promote peace rather than those that simply appear to promote peace.

Spiritual formation is critical to efforts to achieve lasting peace. The scriptures say that we must abide in the Lord in order to bear fruit (John 15:4). The purpose of spiritual formation is to become formed in Christ-likeness. In so doing, an individual takes on those qualities attributed to Christ which include discernment, compassion and peace that goes beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). Therefore increased emphasis on spiritual formation will provide a strong foundation from which peace can grow. Promoting peace through spiritual formation provides teachers with opportunity for synergistic ministry with other individuals who feel a call to spiritual formation, whether lay people, evangelists, high priests, or others.

Expanding comfort zones is another way to assemble peace because a step outside of one’s comfort zone is a step closer to a different person’s comfort zone. Hopefully, there can be a meeting of the minds and hearts somewhere in between. Traveling to various congregations in my area has exposed me to a variety of worship styles and collective comfort zones. One of the congregations in my area specializes in what I would call “high church.” The Sunday school, the building itself, and the worship services and settings are formal and steeped in tradition. Thirty minutes down the road, a sister congregation focuses on vibrant worship services, community outreach, and lots of programs. About an hour from there is a congregation that is intimate, tiny, and consists primarily of devoted adults. A little more than an hour from there is an inner city congregation committed to restoring the neighborhood around it. This congregation offers a contemporary worship with people of all ages, kids’ church, and after school programs. The other congregations in the region also have unique comfort zones despite some degree of overlap. There is nothing wrong with these differences. In fact, differences like this can be very beneficial precisely because they give people options to choose to worship in a way that matches who and how they are.

Diversity like this and in many other ways is clearly a part of God’s plan for creation. How could it be otherwise in this klaidescope universe as big as it is or on a planet with 40,000 different species of beetles, not to mention all the other plants, animals, fungi, protists, or bacteria, and within species diversity as human cultures attest. However, sometimes we get stuck in our comfort zones that we forget that all the colors of the rainbow are all in the same white light. Sometimes, getting out of our comfort zones can be just the thing that allows us to change or heal, or that allows someone else to join us.

Although I am speaking about comfort zones using an illustration about congregations, expanding comfort zones is applicable in numerous settings. For example, letting the thermostat stay a few degrees colder in the winter and a few degrees warmer in the summer can make a big difference in the amount of energy used and the money spent. Here are some questions that teachers can consider or pose to others:

• What is your comfort zone with people?
• What differences are you able to comfortably tolerate?
• How might you expand your comfort zone, even just a little bit?
• Consider your workplace, school, or church, what is the comfort zone for people in these places?
• What changes could be made that would expand the comfort zone? Who might benefit from these changes?
• Where might the Spirit be asking us to come out of a comfort zone a little bit so that we can better play with God or with each other?

Reconciliation and forgiveness are related to comfort zones because they relate to wholeness. Teachers can offer the ministry of reconciliation that is found in wholeness, but not homogenation; communion, but not necessarily consensus; unity and diversity. What is central to this is honouring our common humanity as well as our diversity and most of all remembering that we are all God’s children.

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools that we have to restore relationships, foster wholeness, and be freed to heal and grow. The religious imperative to forgive is strong: “Forgive each other, just as Christ God forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:32). Some of Jesus’ last words before his death are word offering forgiveness. Nonetheless, forgiveness is much harder to do than to say. The New Testament continually calls us to the impossible. We are called to forgive people who treat us unjustly, hurt our feelings, take from us, put us down, harm us, owe us, or treat us differently than we would like to be treated.

At a peace conference in Switzerland that I went to as a teenager, I met a Holocaust survivor. His name was Leif and he told me a powerful story of forgiveness. Leif was put into prison when he was a young man by the Gestapo. He had to overcome the temptation to hate the people who imprisoned him and tortured him. He realized that he needed to represent Christ to the other prisoners and even to the guards. He treated the guards with kindness. Not only was Leif changed, but little by little, the guards were changed. They even became friends with him and helped him survive. His forgiveness and unrelenting focus on recognizing that God’s love was big enough to include even the people who were his enemies helped reveal Christ’s light in the midst of darkness.

Stories like that call us to what is possible, but the journey is not always easy. Sometimes, I am not even sure how to forgive the little things in my life that I have done or have had happen to me. I am no expert on forgiveness. What I do know is that forgiveness holds the key to incredible healing, wholeness, redemption and reconciliation for each of us and for all of us. I also know that like learning to read, it is best to start small. We do not ask little children just learning to read to tackle Plato or T.S. Elliot. We give them books with lots of pictures and simple words so that they can learn foundational skills, gain confidence in what they are beginning to learn, and experience some of the delight that reading brings. So it is with forgiveness. If we can find the little things in our life that we need to forgive and be forgiven for, we can gain some skills at how to forgive, confidence in our ability to do so, and perhaps most importantly, learn the joy of forgiveness. When we learn to read, we do not do so simply because reading is useful, because authority figures tell us we should, or because we are able to read. We read for the sheer delight in a new world that opens to us simply because we can read. Likewise, forgiveness stretches us beyond what we previously thought and enables us to soar to new heights of capability.

Peace in the world cannot be achieved unless peace resides in and flows from individuals. Peace flows from individuals to other individuals, and soon the whole group is peaceful. The individuals in that community are usually involved in multiple other communities through which peace can spread infectiously. God asks each person in unique ways to bear the fruit of peace. Here are some examples. A teacher who has training/interest in law can do arbitrations and alternative dispute resolutions as a form of ministry. Another teacher has a presence that is calming and soothing. She acts as a peaceful sanctuary for those in need. A teacher works with an evangelist to offer spiritual formation experiences. Another teacher volunteers at a literacy program for adults. He then has other opportunities for ministry with some of the participants when they share about other life needs. A teacher with a disposition for advocacy promotes causes related to the environment and human rights. It is vital that we each listen to God, discover how we can be agents of peace, and support others in that endeavor. This is the ministry of teacher, but it is not only the job of teachers to lead peace-making ministry. While there may be many times where it is appropriate for teachers to lead efforts in peace-making, another important job for teachers is to encourage others to discover how they are called to promote peace. Once discovered, teachers can offer support. One way to offer support is in connecting that person with others who may be interested in helping with the cause. Another way to offer support is to share the story of those efforts with others, so that others can offer prayers and support and so that others can catch the vision of a more peaceful world.

Teachers are called to have “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” and to equip others to have that same readiness (Ephasians 6:15). Feet fitted with this readiness of the gospel of peace begin by taking steps towards a more peaceful world. Some teachers may be called to work on peace by addressing big problems in big ways, but not every teacher will be called to or will be able to stop terrorism, genocide taking place in parts of the world, poverty, hate, and injustice. Teachers can take and can help others take small steps, like standing up for a colleague, classmate, or stranger who has been unfairly treated, supporting causes that promote human dignity or working to alleviate injustice, learning techniques for conflict resolution. Perhaps most importantly is to allow the Spirit to form one’s inner life so that one’s whole life becomes that of a peace-bearer. Those small steps, if taken, will carry us towards a more peaceful world.

Here are some additional ideas for teacher ministry:

• Make a prayer for peace flag. Cut out a rectangle the size you’d like your flag to be from a piece of fabric of your choice. Decorate the flag in a way that represents peace. Hang the flag and let the wind carry your prayers.
• Participate in a daily prayer for peace wherever you are or set aside a time each day to pray for peace. You could join the church’s daily prayer for peace.
• Invite some of the kids to make peace shirts. Give them a white t-shirt and let them use fabric markers, puff paint or other decorative tools to design a shirt that represents peace.
• Plant a peace tree. Check with a local garden shop or nursery for what tree might be appropriate to plant. If space is an issue, consider a miniature tree. You might consider inviting friends or family for a little peace tree dedication ceremony. Ask each person to bring a poem, reading, scripture, or song that expresses peace and share those during the dedication ceremony.
• Lead a class that explores peace. The class might, depending on the make-up of the group, include scripture study, studying the work of peace advocates, or developing practical approaches to promoting peace in the community.
• Facilitate a service project related to peace.
• Educate others about generational or other types of differences, or give opportunities for dialogue on topics related to peace. Meet with small groups to teach about the strengths and values of each group. These smaller forums allow for questions and answers as well as providing a safe place for people to vent their frustrations. By using these smaller forums, you will circumvent the possibility of an explosion of frustration in a larger setting that may damage the entire body. As needed, meet with individuals over breakfast or lunch to hear their concerns. Listening circles may be of benefit in some settings (http://www.cofchrist.org/peacebuilding/listening-circles2.asp).
• Don’t just foster common ground experiences, foster higher ground experiences. Keep people’s eyes and minds focused on God as they look for ways to share peace.
• Include peace elements in worship services. This could be a time for sharing the peace, lighting a peace candle, offering prayers for peace, or dedicating a peace pole.
• Read and share books by and about peace advocates.
• Have a film night where movies examine issues related to peace and justice. 
• Start a book club that discusses books related to peace and justice.
• Celebrate the efforts of people and groups that are working towards peace.
• Lead or promote a covenant discipleship group (http://www.cofchrist.org/cdg/).
• Reconcile. Call a relative or friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while because of a dispute or just because of a drifting apart, or be the first to apologize in a situation.
• Meet with neighbors or friends over coffee (or tea) to discuss ways to bring peace to my community.
• Model acceptance and love for all people.