What do we do?
Spiritual formation is the process of becoming happening at the deepest parts of the human person. This area of knowledge gives us language and consideration regarding reality, the life we are aim to cultivate, the kind of person we aim to become, and how we navigate achieving those aims.
To open the door of inquiry to our personal spiritual formation is to open our eyes to the greatest adventure in life.
Personal Inspiration
At the Nemr Institute we approach the journey of spiritual formation through a lens of creativity. This combination, was modeled most poignantly for our founder, Andrew Nemr, by his father, Joseph Nemr.
Joseph Nemr was a quintessential husband – loving, gentle, strong, providing, protecting, and caring. He was also a loving father – present, teaching, guiding, watchful. This isn't to say that Joseph was perfect. Nor is it to say that he somehow came from the perfect place, family, or circumstances to have become such a person.
It is to say that the combination of what Joseph believed, what he experienced, and how he expressed himself allowed him to become this kind of person.
Formation
Everyone gets a spiritual formation, and it is this formation that is the ongoing activity that we all are immersed in. All the time, all the parts of who we are are being formed.
We each have a choice with regards to our part in this process. It can be passive, letting our formation just happen. Or it can be active, engaging with and doing what we can for our part of the process.
Regardless of specific world view, tradition, or personal experience, the process of spiritual formation may be seen as a creative endeavor. One in which what we believe to be possible, what we envision, and our choices of action, all contribute to the final outcome: the person we become.
Creativity
One evening Joseph Nemr brought his son, Andrew, into the room, and sat him down. They had a particular curtain in this room that had painterly effects all over it. Different colors, splatters and strokes, lines and shades, were all found on this curtain.
Joseph asked his son, "What to do you see?"
"I don't know." Andrew responded shyly.
Joseph then slowly began to nudge Andrew, asking, "Do you see this face here? what about this shape? What does that look like?"
With every question, Andrew's sight began to shift as he began to see what his dad was pointing out. Joseph had taught Andrew a way of seeing what was otherwise hidden.
Creativity is at the heart of transformation. It is what allows us to think that something completely new is possible. To imagine, envision, and act on what is not yet materially evident.
Creativity is a function of vision. The creative person is the one who makes a choice that others don't see as available, let alone possible. This kind of seeing is learnable, practicable, and something we can grow.
The practice of creativity begins with learning how to see what isn't readily visible. This happens in a process. First there is the realization that every moment of choice has the potential of immense creativity. Even small choices that we take for granted have creative potential when reconsidered.
Unvieling the Process
Comfort with experimentation comes next. This is the adoption of the beginners mind, that sets aside current knowledge allowing for discovery. It is the adoption of the way of the archeologist, that digs for something they hope to find but can't see yet. It is the way of a scientist, that experiments with a hypothesis in mind, yet waiting to observe the actual outcomes of an experiment. It is the mind of a student who is guided by a trustworthy teacher.
The development of the creative muscle is one that can take deep roots. Not just a skill to be applied in a particular circumstance – like creating a work of art – creativity can be a way of navigating life, a disposition, even a character trait – but not without a supportive program of formation.
Here we close the loop. With a particular kind of formation, our choices (where our creativity is evident) can become naturally directed towards what is good. In this state, we can feel more free, at ease, and joyful. We trust that what comes out of us is good, rooted in love, and aligned with reality. This is the kind of spiritual formation the Nemr Institute is convinced is possible, attainable, and aims to encourage through projects and resources.
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Nemr Institute® is a Registered Trademark of Nemr Institute