What I Learned About the Enneagram
3.5 min read
Growing up, sports were life. More specifically, volleyball was life.
As with most sports, an element of superstition accompanied my game. I wore the same sports bra every game my senior year (clean of course), I chewed the same gum (Eclipse Polar Ice), and I did the same thing before every serve: 3 slap/bounces of the ball, one stretch of it up and over my head with a bend of my elbows, a glance at my coach for the placement call... then serve.
Taking this small example into consideration, if you asked me whether I was superstitious or believed in luck, I would’ve said no.
This answer would’ve really only been because we grew up in a house with a father who wisely quipped, There’s no such thing as luck! whenever a mention of the word was made, and the same went for superstition. He believed, as I do now, everything happens for a reason, on purpose, by an all-knowing, ever-present and trustworthy, loving God, and we have absolutely no control - He’s got it all.
So while I would’ve claimed I wasn’t superstitious… I for sure was. If you’d told me the gum was sold out, my bra was dirty, or I couldn’t do my pre-serve routine, I would’ve had the big one and just known we were going to lose.
I am in no way ashamed of the superstition to accompany my volleyball days #dowhatchagottado, but my point is this: I was professing one thing, but believing another.
The same thing has happened to me with the Enneagram.
If you’re completely unfamiliar with the Enneagram, you’re either anti-social media or a Baby Boomer+. For those of you who fall into these categories: Welcome to 2021. It’s so nice to see you, and I’m glad the rain hasn’t affected your dial-up internet connection.
In short, the Enneagram is a personality assessment with 9 different personality type numbers. By understanding your number, you can learn some really great self-discovery and relationship tools. The Enneagram has apparently been around for ages, but in recent years, it has exploded in popularity. Companies around the world are incorporating The Enneagram into their culture, and churches are even teaching it as a side study.
The minute I learned about it almost three years ago, I was intrigued. I bought the book on it, and I ate it up. Friends are likely laughing reading this already because they’ve been at a table as I held court talking about the Enneagram. “So it’s not like a horoscope. It’s based on Christianity. It’s a tool, and it’s super helpful in relationships. Carrie, I think you’re probably a 9. Here, I’ll send you all the link to find out your number. It’s so fun. The quiz takes 10 minutes. Once you know your number, the main part is to look at your sin! And then you can grow!”
Lol.
In the Enneagram world, I consistently committed the two cardinal sins: Never tell someone what you think their number is, and don’t take a test. You’re supposed to study the numbers to learn which one is more suited to your tendencies and quirks.
Whoops.
Enneagram “rules” aside, I didn’t think anything of touting this thing like it was God’s gift to relationships. The book I read on it was written by a former preacher afterall, and it apparently has roots in Christianity. It was/is just a silly personality test, and I firmly believe it CAN be super helpful, especially in a work environment. So while I’m not saying the Enneagram is bad, I am saying tread lightly.
As I’ve mentioned ad nauseum, I tend to overdo things, and “treading lightly” is a super foreign concept to me. I stomped all over that Enneagram, baby. We’re talkin’ army boots in mud and metal bleachers with tap shoes stomped.
Stompy McStomperson reporting for Enneagram duty.
I started pegging every person I met with which Number I thought they might be. We’re talking even the checkout person at the grocery. Hmm, she’s quiet. Methodical. Good eye contact. Slightly annoyed at my kids touching every.single.candy.in.the.aisle. Gotta be a 1. Or a 5. Hmm… Maybe I’ll just ask her if she knows about the Enneagram. Mam? Hi, yes mam, have you heard of the Enneagram? Well it’s this really great… runforthehillsifyouwanttokeepyourjoblady.
As I studied it more, I grabbed hold of the number I thought I was, and I started dubbing just about everything I did as whether it fit my number. Hmm, that wasn’t very # of me, that wasn’t very # of me either… ooooh that was soooo # of me, I am such a #.
If you asked me about the Enneagram though, I would give you the aforementioned spiel, “It’s not a horoscope, it’s just a tool, blah blah blah” but in reality… I was totally placing my identity in it!
Back to my aforementioned superstition point, if you point blank asked me what I thought my identity was in, I would’ve said Christ.
But it wasn’t. I viewed myself as a child of God and a number on the Enneagram.
Here’s the thing though: THERE’S NO AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR IDENTITY.
We’re either His, or we’re not. And if we’re His -- that’s enough!
Let’s take the Israelites for example. God bless ‘em.
God the Father yanked them out of slavery to deliver them to the Promised Land, parted a SEA in order to do it, poured out manna from heaven to keep them fed, hovered as a cloud to guide them, appointed Moses as ceo, and what did they do? They pouted, whined, complained, turned their backs on God and wanted to GO BACK TO SLAVERY. Why? Because it’s who.they.believed.they.were.
The Enneagram is not slavery, but just like anything else we sit in, get super comfortable in, and relate all of our surroundings to… if we’re not careful, it will be.
I am not here to profess the Enneagram is satan’s work, but I am here to open your eyes and your heart to anything out there in this broken world that you’re placing your identity in above God’s. Because THAT misplaced identity actually IS satan’s work.
Scary huh?
It can be sneaky too guys. The Enneagram was sneaky. It was fun. And so is the school you choose for kids. So is your tennis team. So is your nightly wine(s). So is your workout class. So is your group text. So is your career.
But if any of these things start to consume your thoughts to a point where they’re crowding out a place for a Father who sent His Son to die for you so He could call you HIS, they’re fighting for your identity.
To that I say, FIGHT BACK.
Scripture suggestions are a little different this week. Challenge is to commit to these 5 steps every morning, and start memorizing the passages.
How to fight back this week (and forever!)
Put on the Armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18
Submit to the Lord. James 4:7
Check yo’self before you wreck yo’self. Psalm 139: 23-24
Start believing you are who God says you are. 1 Peter 2:9
Lather, rinse, repeat. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Father God, you never stop fighting for us! No matter what we obsess over or place our treasure in, you will always be better. We confess searching for worth and identity outside of who you say we are. Thank you for calling us chosen, yours, protected, valuable, and loved. All by you - the God of the universe! Walk with us this week and gently open our eyes and hearts to those good things we’re trying to make THE thing. Show us what’s taking up space only you can fill. You are who our hearts long for Lord - help our flesh get out of the way. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.