Aesthetic Spiritual Formation | Youth & Young Adult Spirituality

Directions

Choose your own creative way (image, poetry, song, dance, etc...) to capture your prayerful reflection on this story. There is no right or wrong way to do this, simply do your best (just post a timely reflection-see the rubric below). You do not need to offer any sort of explanation, just your few lines of poetry. Let us have the pleasure of engaging and interpreting your artistic expression for a week.

Week Six Aesthetic Reflection

Michelle Dillon, “Young LGBTQ Catholics: Mainstreaming difference,” in Maureen K Day's Young Adult American Catholics: Explaining Vocation in Their Own Words, pp. 269-275; or Aaron Bianco, “Is Now and Ever Shall Be” pp. 276-81

The First Song of my First EP, The Will and The Way, by Wilton McKinley ft. Rhoda Marie, original cover art and song lyrics, “In The Son’s Rays” originally written in 2009/2010 and reproduced in studio with a friend from the UMC sister church I was then playing alongside with interfaith wise in 2013 and 2014 before moving to Tampa in the NW Florida region.

Now only available on the Deezer App.

“In The Son’s Rays”

PreChorus:

“So let us mention again that His person does

Covers all conventional modes

Of life’s love tension

Chorus 3:

We might have trusted in the words you did say

If it weren’t justified by how we talk or we pray

For we recall Love is the genuine way

To be able to stare and share in the Son’s rays

Bridge:

No consequence no extreme arrogance

Will stray us from this Man we’re in Love with

We’ll be His Bride, He’ll be our husband

And I am convinced that He’s heaven sent

Not because of what is written

Screw the hatred that is called our sin…”

This is the Deezer App link to the album(in another language but song is still in English) but the 1st song on the 1st EP Album I did back in 2013 only available here that is discussed from the Assignment you could listen to. It takes a Free Subscription that you can unsubscribe from after free download and listen if you would like. This goes in regards to the LGBT outlook which goes on even into today's concerned as discussed via Young Adult articles response reflectively and appropriately.

https://www.deezer.com/sv/album/8854593

Week Six: Assignment 1

Drawing inspiration from this week’s readings, in particular the readings on story-sharing, take some prayerful time to map out your own spiritual journey, from as early as you can remember it. Name some important moments in light of what we have studied this semester (spiritual or developmental transitions, growth, the presence of God in others, around you, when you felt consoled, when you felt desolate, how these experiences helped you grow, or any experience that hindered growth, etc.).

Directions for assignment 6.1: Give your journey an artistic expression and upload this here (a drawing, song, sketch, map, or…) Include any key insights or remarkable events you recalled from tracing your spiritual journey that you want to share with the class (list up to 4, and feel free to bullet-point these).

2013 - Wondering if I will ever leave my home and make it on my own and leave everything in the past behind in my post undergrad young adult journey and years from Destin/NW Florida
2014 -“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders” ~Hillsong, moving to Tampa and beginning my RCIA, Catholic Come Home to Christ and Courage Online, Joel 2:25 Prayer Chapel, and Confirmation program journey. Being mentored along by my priests, spiritual directors, seminarians, Christian therapist and fellow young adults and brothers in the faith. Ministering in LIFETeen
2015-2019 - Being Confirmed with a patron saint of the Archangel Michael, on Valentine’s day, 2/14/2015 and beginning my seminary/priestly discernment 5 year period and track at St. Leo for my Masters of Arts in Theology and also doing my Emmaus Winter retreat in Jan. 2016
2018 - present - Finishing my St. Leo program in 3 years, understanding, sometimes regretting, that I could not handle a seminary experience and also never leaving my calling as a musician and worship leader as a desolation…but as a consolation fully investing my my non-profit music ministry business, contracted and continuing, and being a called, wanted, talented, passionate, paid, and needed Worship Leader and musician in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, Central FL…and sometimes farther…while somehow remaining Charismatic, Christian, Catholic and now…Jesuit…( P.S. Meeting again, and more and more several iconic and pastoral worship leaders and artists that inspire me to be the best version of myself no matter my faults, my talent, my experiences, my skill, & to just be me to the fullest, Knowing God is with me always.)

I have noticed things from the readings about mentorship and ministry within my own praxis. As a Millenial that is more adult than young adult and basically within an unspoken pastoral position in worship leadership, it is very hard in the Digital Age to meet people where they are really at and it be real. Some people have the idea of Worship Leadership as a pedestal upon which people can hardly live up to and should be perfect next to Jesus. It isn’t true and us as Worship Leaders have our own imperfections. We too grow with God and the Church, have our own accountability and leaders to report too, but desire to reach out intentionally to those that need it regarding faith.

Leigh Stein says:

Many millennials who have turned their backs on religious tradition because it isn’t sufficiently diverse or inclusive have found alternative scripture online. Our new belief system is a blend of left-wing political orthodoxy, intersectional feminism, self-optimization, therapy, wellness, astrology and Dolly Parton. And we’ve found a different kind of clergy: personal growth influencers. Women like Ms. Doyle, who offer nones like us permission, validation and community on demand at a time when it’s nearly impossible to share communion in person. We don’t even have to put down our phones. (Empty Instagram)

All of this is very true. I have over 1400+ Instagram followers. Some hundred have been lost just because they see me as a Catholic. Others don’t like anything that I have to do with the Reformed Presbyterian ecumenical ties too and leadership locally. Some don’t understand how I could even relate to Pentecostals as a Charismatic. But the rest that have remained faithful I minister to digitally, scripturally, and especially musically & transparently. They have stayed growing, liking, and loving the journey on my sailboat like a little mini-flock. Even over 2000 now on Facebook for my official professional business ministry fan page. Many check in with me to find out what song I am playing, how and where, new releases in our group, where and when I am playing whatever next, or how I met certain famous other artists and I just become real with them and message them back. I make sure to engage them realistically and How I would like to be treated.

A young adult I recently met in a music shop store & jammed with, and exchanged Instagrams, has even come to church with me now twice and watched me lead, then jammed with me after at my own home, learning the songs. He wants to do it too. O’Keefe says, “The adult may invite her to safely and appropriately self-disclose. This adult serves as a sounding board, hearing and responding to the adolescent, assisting her to imagine how others might respond. The robust relationship is important for the adolescent to discover and affirm a sense of her value by having her value affirmed by another’ (132). I regularly share scripture memory picture verses with him and check in with him daily to see how he’s doing as he has disclosed more to me about his life in his relationship with God again thankfully like 1 of the 99.

He knows I am not perfect too, as I have shared with him some our similar histories and as Pope Francis states:

Mentors should not lead young people as passive followers, but walk alongside them, allowing them to be active participants in the journey. They should respect the freedom that comes with a young person’s process of discernment and equip them with tools to do so well. A mentor should believe wholeheartedly in a young person’s ability to participate in the life of the Church. A mentor should therefore nurture the seeds of faith in young people, without expecting to immediately see the fruits of the work of the Holy Spirit. This role is not and cannot be limited to priests and consecrated life, but the laity should also be empowered to take on such a role. All such mentors should benefit from being well-formed, and engage in ongoing formation. [134] (Christus Vivit 246)

Though this is new and a good ministry opportunity and relationship, it is a challenge, and I am letting God grow the seeds I am sowing to just plant.

What I might do differently in my ministry is Say Less and Do More. The Gospel by action and not so much words. Not be a distraction to others participating in corporate worship by any picture taking or too much moving around. And be careful with my words because the “tongue has the power to speak life or death”. I choose life, eternal.

Brief Works Cited Reference for Reflection

(Christus Vivit 246)

Leigh Stein (Instagram)