Struggling in Spirituality

I have been enjoying reading Andrew Mayes’ Spirituality of Struggle. In this book Mayes explores something of the struggles that we all have in various aspects of life. He usefully reminds us that life is like that, and that struggles cannot be avoided, but can be addressed constructively. With the help of a bunch of Biblical character – Jacob, Ruth, Elijah, Jeremiah, Job, Mary (Jesus’ mother), Martha, Peter and Paul – he explores something of the challenges that we may face.

There are many lessons to be learned.  For example, reflecting on Jacob, he comments: "Jacob could have viewed the Jabbok in more negative terms.  It could have become for him a barrier - a place to halt and go no further.  But he realizes that the river, though a place of potential danger, is essentially a ford, a crossing-over place, a way to get from one territory to another.  It represents for us a place of transition, where God calls us courageously to face new possibilities.  Encounter with God can be a risky business.  But it can also enable us in our life to cross boundaries - by letting go of the past, we can embrace a new future." Here is a useful reminder that a lot depends on how we look at things.

Another pointer that I found helpful was to Jeremiah as Mayes says something about how he struggled with the ministry to which he was called. "We can identify with Jeremiah because we sometimes share with him the experience of disillusionment. God seems distant, prayers seem to go unanswered, comfort is elusive. It appears God is locked up in a faraway heaven. And like Jeremiah, we sometimes feel trapped and caught up into a situation from which there seems no escape. Perhaps we feel, like him, that the odds are stacked against us. Jeremiah's experience offers us hints for a spirituality of struggle - a way of praying through our times of anguish." Here is some real encouragement for those very difficult times.

The other reflection that I found particularly striking was Mayes’ consideration of Peter, as he comments on Jesus’ choice of ordinary people, but for a very special role. "Peter is astounded and awe-struck at the gracious action of Jesus.  He really did not know how to respond, because it all seemed too good to be true.  But Jesus has something more for him, indeed, a new vocation: 'henceforth you will be catching men' (Lk 5.10). Jesus is redirecting his life into a new purpose: bringing others into the Kingdom. With some courage, Peter follows Jesus into the future. The adventure to which Jesus calls Simon Peter is a journey into the experience of unconditional love - love with no 'its' or 'buts', with no preconditions.  This is celebrated in the scriptures by the concept of 'grace'' - favour freely shown and unmerited."

There is certainly a lot that I found of value in these reflections on the spirituality of struggling – but perhaps the most significant thing was contained in the reflections on Peter and the way in which Mayes stressed the value of accepting wha God offers. "To be able to receive is a great grace for it calls us to acknowledge our need, to face up to the reality that we will be incomplete without the gift that is offered."