September 26, 2025

Guest Column / Richard Etienne

Are you a contemplative? Reflecting on our individual call to discipleship

Richard EtienneAre you basically a “loner” at your core? Do you believe that a person can do almost everything by his or her own efforts with little help from others?

As a citizen of the United States, you are probably not alone if you hold such personal beliefs.

From an early age, many of us have been schooled in the concept of “rugged individualism.” In this vein of thought, all that a person has to do to accomplish any task is to “buck up” and power through.

“Don’t be such a weakling! Just grow a spine,” some of us heard growing up.

But as a follower of Christ, are such beliefs encouraged?

As Christians, how important is a community of like-minded people in achieving any significant God-driven task? Why should a baptized person bother to engage with others when attempting to carry out a task that seems ordained as important by the Holy Spirit?

In St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we read, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? … that whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him” (1 Cor 6:15, 17).

This vision of community is not built on a model of rugged individualism. We are encouraged to be much more co-dependent in our quest in building the kingdom of God.

And, yes, this co-dependence is messier in the short run. It requires much communication and group decision making or discernment. But the final product or outcome will have a wider ownership and could look significantly different than the original inspiration when it is carried out by a larger segment of the body of Christ.

So, are you ready to work alongside others in building the kingdom of God? Are you willing to surrender your personal vision for a wider view of God’s ultimate plan, his will?

May God continue to bless the body of Christ in all endeavors that are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
 

(Richard Etienne has a degree in theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad and resides in Newburgh, Ind.) †

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