I finished Ron Rolheiser’s On the Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men and it ended as magnificently as it has been going — with some really powerful suggestions on how to take what has been established about the journey and keep it going.
“Transformation” is a word I hear a lot in my business. We “transform” business processes and new software features “transform” how our users work.” It can be used enough that it becomes mundane.
When thinking about how the spiritual journey impacts the sojourner, I prefer this definition:
Transform (trans·form verb): to change in character or condition. Synonym: Metaphose (meta·mor·phose verb): to change strikingly the appearance or character of
Merriam-webster Dictionary
When we encounter Christ on the journey, we do not return the same way. I recall a lesson on Matthew 2:12, which explains that the Wise Men, “departed for their country by another way”, meaning, in addition to the literal taking of a different path, the reality that a true experience with Christ makes it impossible for us to return to the way we were in the same path we came from.
How do we know we are on the path and not bumbling on the wayside? Examine yourself for transformation. How are you metamorphosizing?
I personally have had a large opening of my heart as I pray to see others and God sees them. My fundamental ideologies have shifted as I open my brain and heart to truly attempt to understand and act as if God is truly the only judge, and that there is no good reason to ever deny the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves to anyone.
In the last few years I have had a physical transformation of sorts — I consider it a personal charism — to prioritize simplicity over the temptations of beauty in society. Despite daily messages that my hair/skin color/clothing/weight/nails/etc could be better, I choose to be satisfied with myself as I am. I don’t color my gray hairs, I don’t paint my nails, and I haven’t bought new clothing in at least a few years. I’ve donated clothes, earrings, and shoes on a regular basis to give back the excess that is not needed.
I practice hygiene now 🙂 And my husband is not lamenting his misfortune 😊! But my children see that I only “dress up” for special events with their dad, or for Mass. They also see that mommy has a lot less clothes than any of them do because she’s not growing any more!
OK one kind-of digression. I have had a childhood phobia of caterpillars. Why? When I was young, I have memories of a caterpillar infestation and I remember seeing caterpillars everywhere. They were on car tires, windows were covered with them, you couldn’t touch a gate without moving one, etc. I have found some proof that I am probably not exagerrating.
We recently had a few weeks of caterpillars everywhere here in Texas. It was so bad that, for the first time in my life, I had to cut a hike with my family short because a caterpillar fell on my head (and I felt it!) My kids didn’t tease me too much and we used the opportunity to reiterate that while caterpillars here are nothing to be afraid of, we respect if people don’t like something and don’t antagonize them over it.
In the car home though, I asked them if they’d help me pray about it. Caterpillars are still a creature of God, we acknowledged. And they metamorphose into beautiful butterflies — my son delights in sharing learnings from school about butterflies. We decide to pray that God would help me to not be afraid and did so for several days.
I’m not going to say that I love the squirmy things, but in the new few weeks, I went from screaming, to pointing and exclaiming loudly, to noticing and moving on. For me, this change in response to caterpillars is transformative. And it’s a reminder that nothing is too small or trivial for prayer!
I’ll close with another phrase I used to hear frequently at work: “Always be winning” or “Always be closing” 🏆 While these things aren’t bad, I’m going to stick to “Always be transforming!” 🐛
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
You are the Author of amazing, awe-inspiring features of nature,
While also the author of thing seemingly trivial, trite, and a tad (or more) annoying!
Transform me more every day into the creature you have made me to be.
Metamorphosize me into a creature the world can not conceive of, an animated physical body, yet made in the image of God.
In times of darkness and suffering, let my relationship with you be a cocoon that insulates me against the folly of the world. Strengthen and convert me in those times, that when I emerge, I am stronger and closer to you!