C.A.S.I.
Recently, my eCommerce coach, in helping me test keywords in cyberspace said, “A man shopping for a drill doesn’t want a drill, he wants a hole. What do the people you help want Jaque?” I knew immediately; “The people I help want to fill a hole.”
In future blogs, I will write from my own experience of how God has faithfully “filled the hole” inside me. Some of my blogs may be the length of an article; others will simply be thoughts from the daily enlightenment I’m currently receiving. Once in a while, I may post insights from my readers, but that probably won’t be a regular occurence. I will always invite you to ask questions and offer comments. I care about what you think and what’s important to you. Your questions and interactions with me in this blog will trigger much of what I wish to share in return.
I begin this first blog by re-introducing something that we all know instinctively…
…we are here on earth for a finite amount of time to discover not only what our earthly experience is for, but to rediscover ourselves as whole beings in God. Who is God then? An what part do we have in Him? Why do we experience tremendous lonliness? Why do we often feel so vulnerable? We may sense we are part of a much larger connection but we may not know how to fit into it.
Sometimes we feel in control; other times we feel completely out of control. It’s as though we are trying to hold a cup of uncontained water in our hands. Our happiness seems elusive. Is there any such thing as lasting happiness…really? We search for the approval of others as though we were a starving wild animal-willing to sell our souls just to get a snack. Disrespecting ourselves for begging for tidbits. If we are awake at all to what we’re doing, we feel a sham that swallows any enjoyment we had from the nibble. Our search for significance keeps us busy trying to anchor our ship to shore so we can feel secure. We work and sweat in the daytime and then in our dreams at night. Still we ask, “Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing? Is my life important? Am I important, and if so, why? Our fear of imminent death drives us to do everything we can to survive it. We can’t quit trying to survive long enough to get answers to the questions gnawing away at our insides. Our search for significance is synonymous with our felt need for independence; we desire to be separate from God-to have a distinction all our own-to be unique and to know we are special. The acrostic I will use for what I’ve just shared in C.A.S.I. Our search for wholeness is our search for:
1. Control
2. Approval
3. Security
4. Independence
Anytime we feel the ache it’s because we believe we are missing one of or a combination of these four. I’ll share more about this as we blog along. Note: I will often refer to the hole as “the ache of a silent God”- because God’s “is-ness”, “all-ness” and “fullness” seem to be missing. I will reveal how the hole is filled as we go through the D.A.R.C.-another acrostic that stands for:
1. Discipline
2. Accountability
3. Relationship
4. Community
Discipline is for the focus required to detect the actual feeling related to the ache when you feel it.
Accountability relates to the honesty necessary to admit the feeling after it has been detected.
Relationship is necessary to fill the admitted ache by releasing it with forgiveness.
Community is the connectedness or wholeness experienced when you communicate your gratefulness for being set free by the truth.
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32
The first communication necessary to experience freedom needs to take place within you. No one loves their neighbor until they truly love themselves.
“Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Mark 12:31
As I elaborate on the ache and the steps required to eliminate it, and as you are willing to put these steps into practice, you will undoubtedly feel more and more connected to the answers; who you are, why you are here, and how to co-create with God to receive the desires of your heart; all this will become clear as you pass the ache through the laser light of the D.A.R.C.
Hi Jacque, I just found this on the site! I’ve wondered what DARC was and now I see the brief explanation here. Previously I had thought it was referring to a type of group interaction, but here it looks like something an individual would do. I think it would be helpful if you could give an example of someone dealing with an issue and how each step would be applied….
Thanks, Georgia
Hi Georgia,
It’s both a group interaction and a personal application process. In the personal aspect it might look like the following.
Something’s troubling me. What is it? No, not what is it off the top of my head, but what is the root of it? DETECT it…really detect the root. So, maybe I think I’m upset with the way “so and so” responded to a comment I made. I think they misunderstood me or were just plain rude. Hmmmmm… In this step I ask myself, “Is that really what it’s about?” Digging deeper I realize I’m often offended by this person or…this form of attack. Going deeper I detect the “I” have a rejection complex and I “expect” this person or others to attack me. Going deeper I realize my enemy is veeerrrry intimate and is at work in my inner dialogue to get me to feel like a victim,…going deeper…etc, etc. Until I get to “Bingo!”
The next step, after I’m satisfied I’ve finally detected what “it” is. I ADMIT whatever “it” is. I pray it out to God. “Lord, I admit I feel pride and I want a feeling of control (even self-control) over this situation. I admit Satan has deceived me, etc. etc. In other words, I OWN THE TRUTH. I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for what I’m feeling or with the way it affected me.
The next step after I own it. “Lord, I RELEASE myself, I RELEASE my offender, I RELEASE, release, release. (We can never let go of, be rid of, be free from) what we won’t detect and admit.
Finally, after I release it I COMMUNICATE to God. “Thank You Lord!. I see this and that and so on and so on. Thank You for taking me through the process of the D.A.R.C. Lord, until at last I’m at peace with You and myself once more.” Then I may COMMUNICATE to others more love, more forgiveness, more understanding, and much, much more long suffering. Aha! As a result I end up in deeper “community” with others.
This is the short version Georgia. Does that help?
Yes, that helps – thanks so much. So if I am experiencing life as less than Casme, then I should darc! What a new and interesting vocabulary!
Detect, Admit, Release, and Communicate make more sense to me than Discipline, Accountability, Relationship, and Community, although I can see how they are related. This idea is like the marching orders for taking our thoughts captive and being renewed in our minds!
Thanks, Jacque!
Love it, Georgia!
Great summary!
Although God has now given Jaque a new more personal extension of the acronym DARC, the original stood for Discipline, Accountability, Relationship and Community and does describe what happens in a Visionwriter’s class setting. It’s the strategy that God gave to Jaque from the beginning, even though it wasn’t recognized and named as such from the beginning.
Journalizing is only a part of the vision of Visionwriters and, when used within our structure, it directs people to the other parts for a more complete growth experience:
Discipline, it takes Discipline to stay in the process of daily journalizing.
Accountability, first to God as we face truth about ourselves and allow God to bring correction. Then accountability with God paves the way for accountability with one another, those on this pathway with us. Receiving His love in daily dialogue begins the process of letting down our defenses with others.
Relationship (with Christ, and Christ in others), Relationship is the budding flower of discipline and accountability. There is safety with others who are willing to be corrected and are open to God. A small group format allows intimacy and growth, we see the integrity and character of our fellow believers. We know that they, too are seeking God first and are not concerned either with promoting themselves, or judging each other. Fellowship with God makes us safe people for others, because our own wounds are being bound by Christ.
Community: Discipline and Accountability lead to strong Relationships which lead to Community.
God designed us to grow in a community of like-minded believers who also dwell in His kingdom and have his kingdom within. The ideal is that what starts as a class becomes an inclusive community that doesn’t quit……..
When the structure is followed it really does work to form the kind of communities our hearts desire even if we don’t know it. We want fruitful Christians, and we know bearing fruit is the result of a vital connection with God AND a vital connection with others who are being disciplined, held accountable, are in relationship with Christ and others, and are being perfected in love through community.
Thanks, Sara, that helps bring some clarity. I think I’m starting to experience that community here, online! It’s amazing to think our hearts can be connected from all over the world without ever meeting each other in person!