The Epiphany of George:

In the classic Seinfeld episode “The Opposite”, the lovable but often hapless George Costanza makes an epiphany – everything he’s ever done in his life has been wrong, resulting in a life that is the complete opposite of what he wanted. Determined to turn things around, George decides to do the opposite of his usual tendencies. To his surprise, this simple shift transforms his life for the better.

An old saying goes, “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, don’t be surprised if you always get what you always got.” George’s story demonstrates the wisdom in this statement. So often, we find ourselves stuck in unproductive patterns and habits, yet we continue to repeat the same behaviors, expecting different results.

Agere Contra

What if, like George, we decided to intentionally go against our usual inclinations? This practice, known as “agere contra” (Latin for “to act against”), has deep spiritual roots. St. Ignatius of Loyola incorporated it into his spiritual exercises, recognizing the importance of countering non-life-giving behaviors.

We all have tendencies and blind spots that prevent us from living the life we truly want and that God wants for us. Maybe it’s our knee-jerk reaction to avoiding a difficult neighbor, our habit of losing patience too quickly, or our default mode of hanging onto past hurts. These ingrained responses may have served us at one point, but now they prevent us from fully embracing the freedom and abundance Christ offers.

Rut-Oh

How can we practice “acting against” our usual habits, tendencies, and responses?

The first step is to observe these patterns with compassion and without judgment. Once we recognize these patterns (tendencies, impulses, predispositions), we can create a space between stimulus and response – a space where true transformation can occur.

In that space, between impulse and response, we have the opportunity to choose a different path, to “act against” our usual inclinations.

Unnormal Tendencies

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is one example. She was a nun who focused on the “little way” of loving God simply. In the convent where she lived, there was a nun who bothered her. St. Thérèse was inclined to become impatient and angry with this nun. Instead, she deliberately chose to show her love and compassion.

Like St. Thérèse, We can allow Jesus to guide our response and see the divine in others, even those who challenge us. When we create space between our impulse and response, we have the power to choose how we will respond. In that space, we allow God’s transforming power to change our habits, tendencies, and responses.

Ruts Away

It won’t be easy. Old habits die hard, and the voice of the familiar will try to lure us back to the well-worn but unfruitful path. But each time we pivot and choose a new way of being, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s grace.

The Constanza Effect teaches us that we have more control than we think. While we may not be able to control our circumstances, we can control our response to them. And in that choice lies the key to a life more aligned with the abundant life Jesus desires for us.

So, what “opposite” is Jesus calling you to today? What pivot can you make? What non-life-giving tendencies is Jesus inviting you to release so that you can embrace the fullness of the life He has in store?

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/