On Birthdays
On Birthdays. Human Development and Spiritual Growth
Today is my birthday. I'm not telling you this so that you will send birthday greetings my way. I'm telling you this because, as I approach my 60th year, (I am now, today, 59) I view birthdays very differently than when I was young.
When I was young, I looked forward to my birthday because it was the one day I would feel special and because I would probably (although not always) get a gift. I looked forward to my birthdays as a teen because I was getting closer and closer to adulthood and freedom!! I looked forward to my birthdays in my 20s because I felt that people would respect me more if I had a few more years of experience in whatever it was I was doing at the time.
Today, I view my birthday as a time of gratitude. My birthday falls in the spring-time which is a time of renewal and rebirth. My birthday is in the month of the Holy Virgin (according to Catholicism) and I as such, I have a special connection to feminine divinity. And, as I have been blessed thus far to experience many birthdays, I view my birthday as a time of reflection upon my life, and the wisdom I have gained..
The students of the seminary that are studying to obtain their certification as a non-denominational minister are often perplexed in that the course requires them to study certain aspects of human development as it pertains to spiritual growth. Many of them moan, while others can't see the connection. Still others, however, find the structure a helpful lens to use, especially when viewing where they are in their own personal and spiritual growth and perhaps they gain a glimpse of what lies ahead of them.
One of the theories students are introduced to is the developmental theory of Eric Erickson. Ericson believed that humans face certain tasks at each stage of development, and the successful completion of each task would leave the individual with a certain basic strength; Ericson's Psychosocial developmental stages are as follows:
1. Infancy (Birth to 18 Months) - Task: Trust vs. Mistrust. Basic strength: Drive and Hope
2. Early Childhood (18 Months to 3 Years) Task: Autonomy vs. Shame. Basic strength: Self-control, Courage and Will
3. Play Age: (3 to 5 Years) Task: Initiative vs. Guilt. Basic strength: Purpose
4. School Age: (6 to 12 Years) Task: Industry vs. Inferiority. Basic strength: Method and Competence
5. Adolescence: (12 to 18 Years) Task: Identity vs. Role Confusion. Basic strength: Devotion and Fidelity
6. Young Adulthood: (18 to 35) Task: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation. Basic strength: Affiliation and Love
7. Middle Adulthood: (35 to 55 or 65) Task: Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation. Basic Strength: Production and Care
And, of course, the final stage:
7. Late Adulthood: (55 or 65 to Death) Task: Integrity vs. Despair. Basic Strength: Wisdom
I find myself somewhere between Middle Adulthood and Late Adulthood. I'm not sure that I have completed all of the tasks as outlined by Ericson, although I do feel I have drive and hope, self-control, courage and will, purpose, method, competence, devotion and love. My life is centered around production and care and I do feel (as I suggested earlier) that I have gained wisdom. Yet, the outline is just an outline.
Posted by Rev. Barbara S. Eberle at 5/20/2010 5:01 PM 
Categories: Spiritual Contemplations
Tags: Become a Minister Spiritual Contemplations Get Ordained How to Get Ordained
Categories: Spiritual Contemplations
Tags: Become a Minister Spiritual Contemplations Get Ordained How to Get Ordained
This is how i see things.Many people read many books in a life time and gain knowledge.What most people miss reading is the word of God which is where the most knowledge is that we truly are in need of.Sadly the bible is the book most sold in the world and the most un-read.One reason this happens is because we as Gods children lay to many other books at peoples feet and what they really need first and foremost is the word of God.I do not pay to much attention to my birthday anymore,i pay more attention in doing Gods will that i need to catch up on because i wasted so much time on foolishness.So BIBLE first other books after,BIBLE always everyday,other books occasionally.I find there is to much put in religions and not enough put on a relationship and without that relationship we are done for.People need to get serious about death because it will happen to all of us,what then,do we have a plan,I do im going to heaven why relationship and without it i wouldn't be able to go.God bless and be with you all.
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I'm still in my 20s, so I don't have a lot of wisdom to share. But I like what Mr. Willett has written here. I never considered that the Bible is the most un-read book in the world, but it's probably true. I'm going to try his approach to reading.
Jazzmin (Sunday School Teacher)
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