Kidd: Spiritual Whittling
“Transformation happens not by rejecting these parts of ourselves but by gathering them up and integrating them. Through this process we reach a new wholeness. Spiritual whittling is an encounter with Mystery, waiting, the silence of inner places—all those things most folks no longer have time for.”
—Sue Monk Kidd in When the Heart Waits (HarperSanFrancisco, 1992).
This is my experience of transformation as well. I constantly realize that once-useful parts of my life that have kept me “together,” or kept me connected to God, may be tired and worn and need to rest. These gifts are still a part of me; but what I have to offer has shifted, and my ministry changes. One of the hardest shifts for me was giving up my medical practice that had been my identity; but I was learning that there were so many other things I wanted to do, and it became more and more difficult to keep up with the constantly changing technical medical world.
I also came to learn that just because we are good at one ministry doesn’t mean we should keep doing it. We may be preventing others from taking on the joy of that ministry—and actually, they may be able to do it better! What we learn in one part of our life also can be helpful in another ministry, so we need not discard it. In medicine I learned a great deal about suffering, especially about the suffering of children and their parents. I learned how to look deep inside for hidden clues as to what is causing a disease or difficulty. This ability is now helpful in spiritual direction. I also discovered how to work with many varied people. This has helped me to be a little less judgmental and perhaps appreciate personality differences.
I am slowly learning to reevaluate habits that kept me safe during some parts of my life—habits that have later become destructive.
What am I trying to say?
Life is about constantly relinquishing control or the illusion that we are in control. It is also about being open to change, letting doors shut—but being open to entering new doors; or not being afraid to sit in the hallway for awhile, waiting to hear the squeak of a new door opening. It is about trusting, avoiding being stuck and stagnating, or thinking we are out of options.
Joanna . joannaseibert.com