Growth Through Trauma and Ecstasy: Finding Meaning

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we are driven by a deep-seated desire to make a difference, to contribute meaningfully to the world around us. This drive is a divine imprint on our hearts, urging us to grow and evolve. Today, I want to explore two pathways of growth: through trauma and through ecstasy. Frederick Buechner, a revered thinker and writer, exemplified this journey. Despite the skepticism of his elite family, he pursued ministry, driven by an inexplicable calling—a "lump in the throat," a "stirring in the blood." This calling, though not always clear, was a profound invitation to grow.

Growth often emerges from trauma, a concept known as post-traumatic growth (PTG). While some are devastated by trauma, others emerge stronger, discovering hidden reserves of courage and deepening their relationships. Buechner himself experienced profound loss when his father committed suicide, a wound that drove him to seek a heavenly Father. This search, despite his doubts, filled many with faith. Trauma disrupts our core beliefs, challenging us to find new meaning and purpose.

Conversely, growth can also arise from positive experiences, known as post-ecstatic growth. The birth of a child, falling in love, or realizing a dream can disrupt our beliefs and propel us toward growth. In both trauma and ecstasy, the key to growth lies in meaning-making. From a biblical perspective, this is about discovering the inherent meaning in life, a meaning that is not created but found.

I invite you to reflect on the traumas and joys in your life. What core beliefs have been disrupted, and where can you find God in these moments? Even in the small, ordinary moments—brushing your teeth, sending an email—invite God in. Create memories, find meaning, and make each day count. There is a name worth living and dying for, and that name is Jesus. Embrace this journey of growth, and let it transform you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Growth is a divine calling imprinted on our hearts, urging us to contribute meaningfully to the world. This calling may not always be clear, but it is a profound invitation to grow and evolve. [00:30]

2. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) reveals that trauma can lead to profound personal growth. While some are devastated, others discover hidden courage and deepen their relationships, finding new meaning and purpose. [03:49]

3. Post-ecstatic growth shows that positive experiences can also lead to growth. The birth of a child or realizing a dream can disrupt our beliefs and propel us toward a deeper understanding of life. [06:55]

4. Meaning-making is the key to growth, whether through trauma or ecstasy. From a biblical perspective, this involves discovering the inherent meaning in life, a meaning that is not created but found. [08:19]

5. In both the small and significant moments of life, we are invited to find God and create meaningful memories. By doing so, we make each day count, embracing the journey of growth and transformation. [09:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - The Drive for Significance
- [00:45] - Frederick Buechner's Journey
- [01:11] - Questioning Life Choices
- [02:02] - The Calling Beyond Words
- [03:06] - Growth Through Trauma
- [03:49] - Post-Traumatic Growth
- [04:44] - Stories of Transformation
- [05:33] - Buechner's Personal Loss
- [06:19] - Searching for a Heavenly Father
- [06:55] - Post-Ecstatic Growth
- [07:51] - Disruption of Core Beliefs
- [08:19] - Meaning-Making and Growth
- [09:00] - Finding God in Trauma and Ecstasy
- [09:31] - Inviting God into Everyday Moments
- [11:04] - Making Each Day Count

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." ([02:34])

2. Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

3. James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two pathways of growth discussed in the sermon, and how are they defined? ([03:20])

2. How did Frederick Buechner's personal experiences influence his spiritual journey and growth? ([06:19])

3. What is the significance of "meaning-making" in the context of growth through trauma and ecstasy? ([08:19])

4. How does the sermon describe the role of God in both traumatic and ecstatic experiences? ([09:31])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG) challenge the common understanding of trauma's impact on individuals? ([03:49])

2. In what ways can positive experiences, or post-ecstatic growth, disrupt core beliefs and lead to personal growth? ([06:55])

3. How does the biblical perspective of "meaning-finding" differ from the secular idea of "meaning-making"? ([08:19])

4. What does the sermon suggest about the presence of God in everyday moments, and how can this influence one's spiritual growth? ([09:31])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a traumatic experience in your life. How did it challenge your core beliefs, and what growth, if any, emerged from it? ([09:00])

2. Consider a positive, ecstatic moment you have experienced. How did it change your perspective on life or your relationship with God? ([06:55])

3. In what small, ordinary moments of your day can you invite God to be present, and how might this practice transform your daily life? ([09:31])

4. How can you actively seek to find meaning in both the joyful and painful experiences of your life, rather than trying to create it? ([08:19])

5. Identify a core belief that has been disrupted in your life recently. How can you find solid ground in your faith to navigate this change? ([07:51])

6. What steps can you take to ensure that your drive for significance aligns with God's purpose for your life? ([00:30])

7. How can you create meaningful memories in your daily routine that reflect your faith and commitment to growth? ([10:49])

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Calling to Contribute Meaningfully
Growth is a divine calling imprinted on our hearts, urging us to contribute meaningfully to the world. This calling may not always be clear, but it is a profound invitation to grow and evolve. The drive to make a difference is not merely a personal ambition but a divine imprint on our hearts. This calling, though sometimes elusive, is a profound invitation to grow and evolve. It is a stirring within us, a "lump in the throat" or a "stirring in the blood," as exemplified by Frederick Buechner's journey. Despite skepticism from his family, Buechner pursued ministry, driven by an inexplicable calling. This calling is an invitation to contribute meaningfully to the world, urging us to grow and evolve. [00:30]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you feel called to contribute to the world around you today, and how can you take a step towards that calling?


Day 2: Growth Through Trauma
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) reveals that trauma can lead to profound personal growth. While some are devastated, others discover hidden courage and deepen their relationships, finding new meaning and purpose. Trauma often disrupts our core beliefs, challenging us to find new meaning and purpose. This concept, known as post-traumatic growth, shows that while some are devastated by trauma, others emerge stronger. They discover hidden reserves of courage and deepen their relationships. Frederick Buechner's experience of profound loss when his father committed suicide drove him to seek a heavenly Father, filling many with faith despite his doubts. Trauma can be a catalyst for growth, urging us to find new meaning and purpose. [03:49]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a past trauma or challenge. How did it disrupt your core beliefs, and what new meaning or purpose have you found through it?


Day 3: Growth Through Ecstasy
Post-ecstatic growth shows that positive experiences can also lead to growth. The birth of a child or realizing a dream can disrupt our beliefs and propel us toward a deeper understanding of life. Growth is not only born from trauma but also from moments of ecstasy. Positive experiences, such as the birth of a child or realizing a dream, can disrupt our beliefs and propel us toward growth. These moments of joy and fulfillment can lead to a deeper understanding of life and our place in it. In both trauma and ecstasy, the key to growth lies in meaning-making, discovering the inherent meaning in life. [06:55]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent joyful experience. How did it challenge or change your beliefs, and what deeper understanding of life did it bring you?


Day 4: Meaning-Making as the Key to Growth
Meaning-making is the key to growth, whether through trauma or ecstasy. From a biblical perspective, this involves discovering the inherent meaning in life, a meaning that is not created but found. Growth, whether through trauma or ecstasy, hinges on the process of meaning-making. This involves discovering the inherent meaning in life, a meaning that is not created but found. From a biblical perspective, this is about uncovering the divine purpose woven into the fabric of our existence. By engaging in meaning-making, we can navigate life's challenges and joys with a sense of purpose and direction. [08:19]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you seek to discover the inherent meaning in your current life circumstances, rather than trying to create it?


Day 5: Inviting God into Everyday Moments
In both the small and significant moments of life, we are invited to find God and create meaningful memories. By doing so, we make each day count, embracing the journey of growth and transformation. Growth and transformation are not confined to grand moments but are found in the small, ordinary moments of life. By inviting God into these moments—whether brushing your teeth or sending an email—you create meaningful memories and make each day count. This practice of finding God in the everyday allows you to embrace the journey of growth and transformation, living a life that is both significant and fulfilling. [09:31]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally invite God into one ordinary moment of your day today, and what difference do you think it will make?

Quotes


It strikes me that no matter what you do with your life there's going to be people that think it was pretty stupid, people that think it was pretty foolish, whether you give it devotedly to God or go 180 degrees in the opposite direction or some place in between therefore you cannot make your life count you cannot grow by trying to do what you think other people believe will count. [00:88:48]

It was a lump in the throat, it was an itching in the feet, it was a stirring in the blood at the sound of rain it was a sickening of the heart at the sight of misery it was a clamoring of ghosts it was a name which when I wrote it out in a dream, I knew was the name worth dying for, even if I was not brave enough to do the dying myself and could not even name the name for sure. [00:134:31]

It turns out that while some people are devastated by trauma and they're left a kind of shell of their former self and never really able to cope well with or embrace life again, there are folks there are many folks who are not just survivors they're sometimes called thrivers, and when they come out the other side of what whatever trauma they face, they discover that there are reserves of courage in them that they did not know that they had. [00:231:68]

For Beekner himself, he writes in one of his books about the most searing memory of his life when he was 10 years old the door to his bedroom opened and he saw his father's face poke in and look at him and his brother without saying a word and then the door closed and he left and that was the last time Frederick Beakner ever saw his dad. [00:332:08]

Somehow that loss of an earthly father drove him against all odds to spend his life searching for, and naming his longing for a heavenly father in a way that filled so many people with faith I don't understand exactly how this works even though Beekner himself was filled with doubt and named those doubts all the time, he had a way of building into the faith of me and so many other people that was profound. [00:375:91]

It turns out it's not just when something negative happens to you that that can stimulate great growth but also something positive the birth of a child, we have good friends who have a little baby that is now a month old they were so excited brought her over yesterday and were saying in her first month she has grown two inches already because to live is to grow. [00:415:44]

Now in both cases with trauma and ecstasy what leads to growth is when they disrupt core beliefs, I thought my dad would always be there to protect me he will not where can I find solid ground on which to stand I thought that my life would always be my own it will not how can I make a life that is fit to belong to another. [00:465:59]

The disruption of core beliefs that can lead to either desolation or great growth for a thriver, and the primary variable that determines whether or not it will lead to growth is what is sometimes in research called meaning making, from a biblical perspective it's really meaning finding, for there is a name of one worth dying for, there is meaning that is built into life. [00:487:44]

I ask you today, where has there been trauma hurt pain in your life what core belief is that disrupting where do you find meaning where can you find God there and then what good is going on in your life where is there some ecstasy either euphoric real big or just a small one, and how can you find God invite him into the small moments of your life. [00:540:39]

When you are done listening to this right now there is nothing too small when you brush your teeth, when you send an email, when you go to work, when you just God would you be with me now, would you to help me to name the name to find the meaning, maybe it's make a memory I just had dinner with Linda my administrative assistant and Nancy and my great friend. [00:571:04]

Every day is an opportunity to create a memory, to invite God into what's going on, that's our day, in the trauma and the ecstasy there is a name, he is worth dying for, worth living for, make this day count. [00:649:12]

Thanks for joining us here at becomenew.net if you'd like to receive the daily emails that go along with each video let us know at becomenew.me gmail.com or if you want prayer you can text us at 855-888-0444. [00:672:00]

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Transcript
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