Every once in a while, I get asked to tell my story – folks want to know how it is that I came into this ministry. Though the question seems straightforward enough, the telling of that story has been an evolving process.
The stories we receive from our family, faith traditions, culture & society become the lens through which we view our lives; they have tremendous power over us, both consciously and unconsciously. Mine was one of broken family relationships, abusive situations and painful rejections. I saw my life through the lens of my anger and pain, and the tale I told reflected that. I began to heal from the wounds of my childhood and grow in emotional and spiritual maturity (thanks be to God!), but the narrative stayed the same. One day, I started listening and found I didn’t like the story being told. I was stuck, imprisoned by the negative feelings and memories. I wanted to be free; I wanted to share my journey in a new, more positive way. The facts of my life hadn’t changed - the bad things that happened were still bad and the wounds hadn’t gone away - but I realized that I wanted to tell it in a way that was healing and restoration. With the help of friends, I began reframing and retelling until my story went from a tale of brokenness and abuse to one of transformation and redemption. The facts and events, once the main theme, became part of a bigger story, a bigger narrative that led me here, to this ministry. I find that I really like this version of my story. What is your story? How well does that story suit you? What is the story you desire to grow into? On Saturday, May 5th, join us for a day of reflection. Step into the Story of Your Life is an opportunity to reflect on, share, and vision the next step in your story. Join us as we attend to “the story that holds us” then move to construct “the story we hold,” then awaken to the realization that “we are being held.” I hope to see you there! You can learn more and register here.
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