The Enneagram is a useful tool in trying to see what an individual may be focusing on or engaging in when they are not really living in the present moment. There are nine points on the enneagram, each corresponding to a particular way in which one may behave or divert energy instead of being present. I find myself to resemble point ‘Nine.’ For the Nine, life comes at you as a full body blow many times and the inclination for whatever reason is to feel overwhelmed and want to withdraw or disengage. On good days, or in present moments, I can accept and receive the experiences of life as they come to me, try to accept them for what they are, and engage in the experience instead of running away.
It’s a ‘staying with’ or remaining within the moment, however difficult it may seem or feel, and somehow allowing the experience to teach me, or lead me, or even transform me sometimes. It is very often an exercise in patience, humility and endurance. Regardless of measuring any so-called success rate, just knowing my proclivity towards a reaction of withdrawing does help me in at least in trying to remain in the presence of life experiences and letting them speak to me. But I cannot do any of this alone.
This theme of remaining and not withdrawing, trying to maintain in real presence is captured in today’s scriptures. From the prophet, Daniel (DN 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95), in the first Scripture reading today, we hear the story of three Jewish men who, by refusing to pay homage to the golden idol of Nebuchadnezzar, are thrown into a fiery furnace to meet their end. When Nebuchadnezzar approaches the furnace containing the men, he sees not three but “four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” To his amazement, not only are they unharmed, but there is an ‘other’ there with them in the midst of this fiery furnace.
It seems to me that there is a question of freedom present in this scripture. The three men are offered the option of either worshiping a god that they consider false or perish instead. Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger, tries to take away their freedom to worship their God, but fails to take into consideration the relationship that exists between these three and their God! There is this other presence there in their midst, in the fire of destruction that protects them and allows them to be unfettered and unhurt, and more than that, they are in the intimate company of this other who is saving them. This is a different kind of freedom that goes beyond simply a choice, but encompasses the wholeness of the person and indeed all of life. This is a freedom of related openness that comes along with this overwhelming relationship with this other – this God who protects!
In the Gospel today (JN 8: 31-42), we hear Jesus’ bold and reassuring claim,
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Similar to Nebuchadnezzar, the Pharisees take offense to the implication that they were un-free or enslaved in the first place. Again, it’s the question of what is the Truth of Freedom. Jesus replies to them, “A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.” In other words, if we are slaves to sin – anything that prevents us from being in authentic relationship with God – then we are depriving ourselves of true freedom, which is belonging to God as a child (son or daughter).
Again, this freedom is beyond choice, in that it is accepting the otherness of God into our lives and letting God really relate to and within us. Acceptance of this otherness entails the commitment to remain sometimes in the uncomfortableness of a situation long enough to really hear what it is saying to us – to be faithful, to walk in the fire, but…and here is the punch line…to know and embrace the God who is right HERE with us now! Unfettered from the slavery of sin, we are truly free to remain in the “household” and not run away. There is no reason to run now. It is always the available home for everyone, even someone who is a nine on the enneagram!
During this time of upheaval, disruption, uncertainty, and fear, we may be called to allow it to speak to us and hear what is being said – to walk in the fire and to see that the other is here also present. God is this other, who is not far away, but holding us without fail – the deep fullness that transforms us within and sends us out to do more…entering into the fiery furnace and dancing in the flames that do not consume. This is shedding the slavery of false freedom and engaging in a relationship of freedom wherein we pass through, remain in, and are sent from – all at the same time.
As we move closer to Holy Week, we already have a foretaste of the Truth of Freedom that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection exemplifies – to remain in surrender, to stay with and accompany, to love and be sent, to die and live together!
As Jesus says, “… I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
Peace
Thomas
(written March 16, 2016)