Disillusionment
Enlightenment
They go hand in hand.
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened . . ."
Ephesians 1:18
The spiritual journey is about enlightenment, about seeing the light (of Christ), about moving from darkness to light, and about living in the light we have received.
Some people don't make this journey because they prefer the darkness. In John 3:19-20 Jesus tells us some people loved doing what is wrong/evil, so they rejected the light and chose the darknes... hoping to hide their evil.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. Through these words, John 1:9 describes Jesus as the light of God shining in the world.
In most cases, it is pretty easy to identify the darkness. I may prefer the darkness, but it isn't too hard to identify it.
But there are times when the problem is not as simple as light and darkness. At times we are living in the world of shadowy illusions. We are living with images, pretensions, confusions, misjudgments, projections, subterfuges, distortions . . . and we don't really understand this is our condition.
I think this is a more perilous spiritual condition, for it takes times, it requires outside guidance and perspective, and some strong doses of courage for the Spirit of God to do His work of
- - - "dis" illusioning - - -
That is, of revealing the illusions
and removing the illusions.
I wish I could simply ask you to think about the illusions that are in your life. Well, I can ask it. It is just that it is terribly hard to answer it. But ask and answer it we must!
Being disillusioned is painful. It may be gradual or it may be sudden... but suddenly the scales fall off of the eyes, the illusion is understood, and there is clarity about the truth.
The spiritual counsel and guidance from some trusted friends and a wise mentor are part of the process of becoming "disillusioned."
I think some of the work of leadership is to be a "disillusioning" leader who brings clarity and perspective to the tenuous. Much prayer. Much thinking. Much hard work of discerning. All this and more is needed to pierce the illusions.
May you have such friends in your life...
May you experience the grace of discernment and of disillusionment in the days ahead.
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
