I'm not a huge proponent of personality tests or assessments, although I've had to undergo plenty of them for school and in the workplace. They can be limiting at best, and don't always account for changes in people's lives. A few of them even have dubious origins, which is why I've steered clear of them.
However, in a few of the ministries I've served with, I've been asked to take the Sacred Pathways inventory (also known as spiritual pathways on other websites) from Gary Thomas to determine how I best connect with God. I'm not necessarily advocating this book as I don't typically subscribe to this type of thinking, but I find it interesting that when I take a look at the options provided, I can easily see which one I gravitate toward without having to go through a questionnaire. The nine pathways that Thomas explores include:
- Nature
- Enthusiastic Worship
- Learning
- Tradition
- Asceticism
- Sensation
- Caregiving
- Social Justice
- Quiet Prayer
While I'm fully aware that learning is how I feel closest to God, I also recognize that I can't let that pathway become my everything. As much as I love reading the Bible and Christian books and filling my mind with knowledge, it also has to translate into something outside of my head.
Where this assessment has helped me is to recognize that how I'm wired is not something I need to be ashamed of. At the same time, I also don't need to beat myself up for not feeling as much of a connection to say, nature or enthusiastic worship. Even though I'm not a major adherent of this teaching, I can see how it can still be beneficial to other believers who may feel like the pathway they most often use might not be reflected within their own family or church.
I appreciate that learning has always been a significant part of my life. My Christian walk has been strengthened over the years as a result of studying the Word and finding amazing Christian resources to help me better understand who Jesus Christ is. While I don't have too many people in my personal life who have similar tendencies as I do, it is so refreshing to find a community of Christian learners online.
If anyone is interested in taking the Spiritual Pathways personal assessment, here is one of the websites that I have been referred to from Group Leaders (this one only has seven pathways, but Soul Shepherding offers one with nine). Since contemplative spirituality is not my jam, I only use this information as affirmation that it's okay to feel connected to God through learning, rather than fully diving in and exploring every single facet of what my particular pathway means. That doesn't mean that others can't, especially as Group Leaders does have an action component after contemplation, which more speaks to me.
For Christians who resonate with the following statement, you're not alone. "I feel close to God when I participate in hours of uninterrupted study time, reading God's Word or Christian books." What a delight to know that there may be others who feel the same way as I do!
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