Resistance, God, and Experiential Learning

Resistance, God, and Experiential Learning

My presentation on using resistance as an opportunity for growth had several levels of interest. Most participants wanted specific tools they could apply to various scenarios that they encounter with students or clients. Another level revolved around what is resistance, how does it manifest, and what does it mean for “me” in the experience. Lastly, there was a level where a couple of folks who were exploring how does God play in the process of resistance. Although I appreciate the behavioral-type interests, it was this inquiry around God and resistance that intrigued me most. For it is what defines my interpretation of life and my life experiences.
To ground our topic of conflict and resistance, I referred to an experiential model of learning. Drawing from David Kolb’s work because of its simplicity, albeit lacking robust processes, we discussed how the experience of working in conflict or exploring resistance in the moment, while in motion and repetitively, provided the deepest understanding. That is, by moving through each experience, applying new tools or understandings or testing hypotheses, one gains a sense of mastery and insight to the nature of resistance.
Returning to the lens of examining resistance through what is God, what is my framing of meaning of life, how do “I” move through life’s resistance with my understanding of God, generates opportunities for a unique form of transformation. Personal transformation happens with change. In addition, change does not necessarily come without conflict or resistance. For most of us, it is the experience of pain, resistance, frustration, or anger do we begin to investigate what is going on here and why the outcome sought are not coming to fruition? In the first session of the two-part presentation, we talked about interpretative lenses, and models that we could expand a sense of understanding of a particular conflict. Participants walked through a classic Conflict Resolution model via a dyad experience. However, what guides our interpretation and subsequently, how does that manifest in our behavior?
In the second session, two people shared some about their Faith. It was from this disclosure an opportunity became evident for us to discuss that we believe in something. All of us do. What do you believe in? In our culture, we can espouse a particular structure but our behavior and thought patterns are what truly reveal as our belief structures. Admittedly, I consistently see a pattern of “how does this influence me?” as a prevailing mantra! Nevertheless, when I see that question, I have the opportunity ask another set of question/statements:

What does God want me to do here?
I want God to run this process, not me!
There is no “me” in this experience but only God.

I take some deep breaths and follow the rhythm of my breathing. I am compassionate with myself if I hear some negative self-talk or if I can recognize the turmoil the other is experiencing, I can feel a deep sense of compassion for that person and the many others who experience similar wrestles. Even when I go to present or meet someone, often I ask God to remind my mind that there is only Him, there is no “me” and whatever the outcome it is His to make. It can’t or rather, I don’t want it to be about me. (It too exhausting for me to try to manipulate, control and still not get the outcome I am wanting.)
Here is where the experiential learning comes into play. I have to do this process of recognition and surrendering repeatedly. Tons of practice with a goal never achieved, (Perfection). (That is mastery.) However, I notice that my prayer life feels ongoing. Even when I am angry or frustrated, I get where it comes from, that set of distorted perceptions. The Reality is beyond my description. I can’t articulate God’s Truth for that is outside of words, pictures or concepts that could be conveyed. Nevertheless, I do seek ways that I can facilitate experiences where people can know, first hand, at what I point.
The conference was a great opportunity for me to see God’s grace in His ongoing teaching and conditioning of “me:” giving other people a chance to glorify Him, and to practice humility. I have not given up this life to God entirely so it continues to be a part of my prayer life. I may never have the apperception of God; that might not be in the path God has for me. However, I know the resistance that I feel and experience is God’s grace in developing and conditioning “me” in this relative reality, we can Life.