The Spiritual Journey

The Spiritual Journey

The Gospel of Mark

            I am indebted to Dr. Mitzi Minor for this outline.  Several, several years ago, before I was even thinking about seminary and ministry, I attended a workshop session led by Dr. Minor.  She is an expert on the gospel of Mark.  This is the outline she presented that day.  I believe it could apply to any of the gospels, as well as those chapters of Acts (8:1-9:30, 13-28) which deal with the conversion and ministry of Paul.  I’ve chosen Mark because this is the work for which the outline was originally intended, and because, since it’s the shortest of the gospels, it can be read in one setting.  I suggest you take a couple of hours for this.  Read Mark in its entirety; then read the outline; then, with the outline in front of you, read Mark again, applying the outline to the gospel.  I think you’ll find it both interesting and rewarding.

The Stages of the Spiritual Journey

Everything seems fine…

            And then it doesn’t.

            There is a sense of disruption:  something “here” is lacking.

            We must go “there” to find it.

The Summons

            Someone is “called” to journey “there”…

            The pilgrim departs and is given spiritual aid for the journey.

The First Threshold

            A place, a moment, a circumstance suddenly communicates to the pilgrim

                        that the journey will not be easy.

            Hence the first awareness of the commitment required—will the pilgrim

                        journey on, or will (s)he turn back?

The Road of Trials

            If the pilgrim journeys on, (s)he will encounter joys and triumphs, but also

                        trials and challenges, for this road goes through wildernesses and

                        valleys darkened by the shadow of death.

Leading to the “Belly of the Whale”

            The journey leads the pilgrim to the farthest point of self-emptying,

                        To the “dark night of the soul;”

                        Into the “belly of the whale.”

The Return Journey

            When the pilgrim finds him/herself not dead but alive (reborn), when (s)he finds

                        that the self-emptying has led to the deepest self-confirmation, then (s)he

                        must return home to share the wisdom gained.

            I.e., the pilgrim must invite others to undertake the journey.

One final step:  how does this description fit your personal spiritual journey?  Where are you in this outline?