07-23-2010, 12:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-23-2010, 12:15 PM by Questioner.)
Great question, too big and too tangential to the Enneagram to explore in depth here. It really should be a different topic thread.
My only point here is that the temptation for type 9, when other people are non-peaceful, is to do nothing at all, in the mistaken belief that their God of peace is so small that if the type 9 is at all negative, they lose their connection with God.
At best, a type 9 person is connected with God's peace in his or her own heart. There is no terrifying risk of separation from God to acknowledge that other people are behaving in a nonpeaceful or even evil way. Fully aware of the truth, the type 9 can then make a wise, moral choice of what to do. Options might include: relocate, speak up, fight back, have a fully aware meditative spiritual prayer warrior experience, or do something else appropriate in the situation. They do not have to do the ostrich head in the sand routine, out of fear that acknowledging a lack of peace somehow cuts them off from God.
How to appropriately respond to evil, in the outer world, is a big topic. I'm looking here at how each Enneagram type shows a way to be present with God's love in our own actions. And each type also has a temptation to fearfully do far less than our best, because we imagine a God who judges us in a way we can't measure up.
I'm not suggesting here that a type 9 person should react to evil by an outward "just war." I'm also not suggesting that they shouldn't. I am suggesting that they should be honest about the situation, and respond in a heartfelt way that is fully engaged with the peace of God within. Perhaps there is sometimes nothing that can be done externally. In those situations, however, prayerful, mindful meditation is a world away from sticking one's head in the sand.
My only point here is that the temptation for type 9, when other people are non-peaceful, is to do nothing at all, in the mistaken belief that their God of peace is so small that if the type 9 is at all negative, they lose their connection with God.
At best, a type 9 person is connected with God's peace in his or her own heart. There is no terrifying risk of separation from God to acknowledge that other people are behaving in a nonpeaceful or even evil way. Fully aware of the truth, the type 9 can then make a wise, moral choice of what to do. Options might include: relocate, speak up, fight back, have a fully aware meditative spiritual prayer warrior experience, or do something else appropriate in the situation. They do not have to do the ostrich head in the sand routine, out of fear that acknowledging a lack of peace somehow cuts them off from God.
How to appropriately respond to evil, in the outer world, is a big topic. I'm looking here at how each Enneagram type shows a way to be present with God's love in our own actions. And each type also has a temptation to fearfully do far less than our best, because we imagine a God who judges us in a way we can't measure up.
I'm not suggesting here that a type 9 person should react to evil by an outward "just war." I'm also not suggesting that they shouldn't. I am suggesting that they should be honest about the situation, and respond in a heartfelt way that is fully engaged with the peace of God within. Perhaps there is sometimes nothing that can be done externally. In those situations, however, prayerful, mindful meditation is a world away from sticking one's head in the sand.