December 10, 2007 - recent posts on Organizational Theory and Education

One of the books I have in me is a theology of failure- I have spoken often of "my Midian" and the ministry of the wilderness in exacting transformation.
I suppose that is one reason why I see Mezirow as high on the "able to be integrated" quotient:

He points out that transformative learning theory always begins with a disorienting dilemma, then follows self-examination with feelings of guilt or shame;a critical assessment of assumption. But this may be where Mezirow and the reality of grace start to diverge. Or rather this may be where a branch occurs- one will either (a)follow the path Mezirow suggests, or (b)allow the circumstance to freeze one in their tracks, or conversely (c)wait upon the Lord to bring transformation in the heart. I am still thinking about this. One may simply be unable to negotiate change- rather casting oneself headlong on grace is the only alternative.

There may not be options for new roles, relationships,and actions from a temporal perspective. Moses was not planning a course of action in Midian, althougt the shepherding skills he was gaining by grace would serve him well in his newly assigned role.Maybe working with sheep was a provisional trying out of the new role, but I doubt it was volitional. Perhaps this is the same with new skill acquisition. It was his obedience in the face of his lack of competencies that made him the most humble man alive.

Paul’s commission in Acts 9:15-16 says “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” When defending his qualifications, Paul most consistently eschewed his accomplishments in favor of his sufferings as a source of authority. His catalogues of hardship (1 Cor 4:9-13; 2 Cor 6:3-5; 11:23-30) demonstrated his authority and influence were not tied to position or office.
Transformation requires reintegration of reality, but it is not so intentional as Mezirow makes it sound, in my mind.Reintegration of new assumptions into one's life is a painful process. It's more painful in direct proportion of how much has to be destroyed by the sculptor's hammer or the refiner's fire.