The Connection Between Salvation & Wholeness

Several weeks ago I shared with you that I have discovered my passion, "To equip and come alongside people as they journey toward greater spiritual, emotional and physical wholeness." For me the key word in this statement of passion is wholeness. I think that all of us long for wholeness. 

Wholeness can mean different things to different people. For me at it's core wholeness is being restored to our true or authentic selves. Our authentic or true self is who God intended and created us to be. It is the unwounded, unhurt, and innocent self. It is my belief that we come into this world pure and whole. It is only when we begin to experience life that we become broken and only a shadow of our authentic self.

Living in this world means experiencing sin, brokenness, woundedness, shame, fear, and suffering. These experiences draw us away from our authentic selves and create in an "unclean heart". It is only through God's unconditional love shown in Jesus that we can be truly restored to wholeness. For me this is the essence of salvation. Salvation is not about the what happens after we die but rather salvation is about being saved from our "shadow selves" (think inauthentic selves).  Jesus' life, death and resurrection not only showed us how much God loves us but also how to love. Jesus showed us the messiness of love and that love is hard. Jesus also showed us that God's love overcomes death gives restored life to each of us. In reality wholeness is about restoring ourselves to the love that God revealed in Jesus Christ. 

The good news is that we are all on a journey toward wholeness and God has given us a vast array of tools that we can tap into to find spiritual, emotional, and physical wholeness! What are some tools you have? What types of tools would you like to learn more about?

A New and Exciting Chapter

Last November I left my position as Director of Christian Education at Memorial Presbyterian Church. This departure was unexpected and devastating. I had been work so hard to become a better leader and Christian Educator and to "make it work" and I thought I had turned a corner and was looking forward to a good year ahead. I was heartbroken, lost, angry, confused, and probably even depressed. I wonder why? I wondered how I move forward? I wondered what was next?

Well, after much prayer, support, and discernment I realized what was NOT next was working as a Christian Educator in a congregation. This took courage for me to realize and embrace this new reality. However, I wasn't sure where God was calling me next. I realized I had to discover what my true passion and purpose was in this season of my life. Thus, I began working with a Career Coach who has guided me on this journey of discernment.

I have discovered this is my passion:

To equip and come alongside people as they journey toward greater spiritual, emotional and physical wholeness.

It is exciting to dream about the ways my passion will manifest itself and grow into a vocation/career. I look forward to sharing wisdom, experiences and insights with you as I discover how God is calling me to live into my passion and purpose!

Back in the Saddle

Today I led staff devotions in my new congregation Memorial Presbyterian Church. My devotion was a reading from a book by the former Senior Pastor at my home congregation Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Don Miesel. The reading was about balance and how vital balance is to ones faith journey. At first I could not figure out why I was drawn to this reading. Then it dawned on me-I've been feeling unbalanced. Since moving to Appleton and starting this new call a majority of my life has revolved around the church and the people in church. It occurred to me that maybe God is reminding me to find and/or rediscover other outlets for my time and energy. What else am I passionate about? What else to I enjoy doing?

As I've pondered this today amongst the work of my call I realize I miss writing and blogging (it has been over 6 months since I posted last), I miss my photography, I miss crocheting, and I miss reading! I am reminded that I am more than my job and God has given me gifts, skills, and passions that also make me who I am.

I was also reminded that taking a break from blogging, photography, reading, crocheting was necessary to focus my energy on my job search and the "soul and shame work" that I need to do in order to be where I am now. Granting my self grace to do what I needed to do and not what I thought I "should" be doing has given me freedom to be more authentic and true to myself.

Thus I'm ready to be "back in the saddle"-sharing my musings and my photographs.