The Inward and Outward Journey — How do we actually change?

“Christian spirituality has a great deal to do with the self, not just with God. The goal of the spiritual journey is the transformation of self. This requires knowing both our self and God. Both are necessary if we are to discover our true identity as those who are in Christ. ..

In all of creation, identity is a challenge only for humans. A tulip nose, exactly what it is. It is never tempted by false ways of being. So it is with dogs, rocks, trees, stars, amoeba, electrons and all other things. All give glory to God by being exactly what they are. For in being what God means them to be, they are obeying him…

We should never be tempted to think that growth in Christ likeness reduces our uniqueness. As we become more and more like Christ, we become more uniquely our own true self. as Thomas Merton reminds us, ‘There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find him, I will find myself, and if I find my true self, I will find him.’”

Dr. David Bennett, The Gift of Being Yourself