She gasped. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but her first trip to the new mall took her breath away. Three floors towered above her. The central prominade streached before her. Side paths, alcoves, stairways, and balconies abounded. She took a deep breath, set her resolve, then strode forward. Forty minutes later, she thought she’d found the Macy’s jewelry counter. Instead, the clerk informed her she was in the Kohl’s bargain basement. Her red face stung as she quickly turned away.
The clerk trotted to catch up with her. “Miss, that pillar over there has a guide map. Might help.” He shrugged and returned to his post.
A large, backlit map displayed all floors, large stores, small shops, and even the food court. Their names appeared in categorized lists on either side. And there, in the center, a large arrow pointed at a red dot. Its label read, “You are here.” She laughed at herself. Then, with new knowledge, headed towards her goal.
When Paraclete associate, Linda Swanson, ministers as a Spiritual Director, she often uses what Dr. Larry Crabb called the Red Dot Exercise. By asking appropriate questions, she helps her directees acknowledge where they really are emotionally and spiritually as opposed to what they tell others, or even themselves.
Linda says, “There are many different kinds of emotional words that take you to where you really are. [But] guilt could keep you from it. Shame can keep you from acknowledging it. Aspirations, pride, so many things can keep you from acknowledging to yourself where you really are.”
The Spiritual Direction ministry does not come in with a prescribed ‘0ne-two-three’ set of steps. It relies on the Holy Spirit’s leading. The Red Dot exercise asks questions that help the directees admit, describe, and understand their position. Are they hiding depression or destructive habits from themselves? What’s preventing them from dealing with root issues?
Linda explains, “Christ already knows. He’s already there waiting to comfort and heal. But if we’re not honest with ourselves or with him, then we’re just dealing with a facade. We can’t receive the help we really need.”
The Blind Bartimaeus story illustrates this. When Jesus stood in front of him, he didn’t immediately deal with the obvious issue. Instead, he asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do?” After he confessed that he wanted to see, Jesus healed him. Bartimaeus had to name his need. Only when we’re honest with the Lord can we receive true healing.
Recently, Linda ministered to women seeking a new start after escaping from human trafficking. One directee commented, “Recognizing where I really am is transformative. When I see the areas in my life that I pretend don’t need but do need transformation, I am able to offer more grace to others.”
Another observed that she was able to identify the areas of her life and how they are centered close to Jesus or far away. She noticed, though, that her foundation was Christ, and He supported each area with His presence and gifts to equip her for all she needed.