Labyrinths: A Tool for the Journey Towards Wholeness

I wrote in a previous post about how my love affair with labyrinths began. This initial encounter with the seminary's labyrinth was only the beginning of my labyrinth journey. Labyrinths are an ancient form of prayer and meditation. They are "single path or unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation"(Labyrinth Society website). For many labyrinths represent the journey towards transformation. For Christians (as well as others) the first half of the journey is a journey inwards, away from the distractions of the world and towards God. The center of the labyrinth represents God's indwelling or presence with you. The second half of the journey is a journey outwards back into the world, hopefully with a renewed spirit and energy. 

As my labyrinth journey continues I am struck by the uniqueness of each labyrinth walk. Each time I walk a labyrinth my journey is different. Sometimes the twists and turns of the labyrinth are a bold reminder of the twists and turns my life has taken or is taking. Some walks are very emotional and cleansing. Some walks are very ordinary and seem like nothing really scared has taken place. During some walks I can literally feel God's presence around and within me guiding each careful step. One thing I know for certain is that each time I walk a labyrinth I am transformed in some way leading  towards greater wholeness and authenticity.

I love to talk about labyrinths; my journey, their varied uses, and offer suggestions for walking them. This is a passion of mine and I'd love to share more information and stories with you! 

Tell me you labyrinth stories! What questions do you have for me about labyrinths? How might you incorporate labyrinth walking into your life?

For some great information about labyrinths surf on over to the Labyrinth Society website.

The Strength and Beauty of Weeping Willows

Weeping willows are knows as graceful giants. I have always been drawn to these breath taking trees. As I child I remember enjoying climbing and hiding in their trunks. I had several senior photographs taken under/near a weeping willow.  Now as an adult I am drawn to their gnarled and strong trunks. I am drawn to the drooping limbs that sway effortlessly in the breeze. I am in awe of their ability to stand strong while their roots are plunged into very wet soil and unstable soil.

My admiration for weeping willows stems from my sense that weeping willows speak to us in a powerful way. They challenge us to adapt to our surroundings. Weeping willows grow in wet swampy areas where the soil can be unstable yet we don't usually see them fall down in a wind storm.  This is because the roots of weeping willows grow deep and wide proving an extremely strong base. In fact the roots can grow as deep as the tree is high and spread out up to 40 feet away. As humans we too need to have a strong roots structure so we too can flourish. We need to find ways to uncover, embrace, and nurture our authentic self so we too can stand strong in the storms that come and go.

Weeping willows also challenge us to embrace our whole self. The trunks of the graceful giants are gnarled yet strong. When contrasted with the dramatic ground sweeping branches the effect is breath taking. It wouldn't have the same effect if all we saw were the gnarled trunk or just the branches. If we hide part of ourselves from the world we are not whole. When we are able to embrace and nurture our whole self we too become breath taking. We must embrace both our strength and our beauty for when we do we to can become graceful giants who weather the storms of life and show God's love for this world.

How do you nurture your authentic self? How do you nurture the strength and beauty God created in you?

Healing: The Act of Restoration

I have been thinking a lot about healing recently. I believe healing is the act of restoring ones body, mind or spirit to a flourishing condition. In this sate we are able to be our most authentic selves. When we are are most authentic self we are living as the being God created us to be. We live most of our lives in a state of unhealthiness (read not authentic). Physically, we can become sick or injured. Mentally, we can become depressed, lonely, or ashamed of ourselves. Spiritually, we can become wounded and hurt and feel God has abandoned us. All of these states of being keep us from living as God has made us.

I am drawn to the idea of restoring. In the act of restoring we are not changing the essence of who we are. In fact in many cases we are simply uncovering it and letting it shine. In the act of restoring we are doing the hard work of peeling away years of paint that have covered up the true beauty of our soul. We sweep away the dust that has built up over time because of neglect or fatigue. Restoration is a transformative process that begins and ends with God's love. In fact restoration may look like we have changed who we are and in some ways we have. We have changed behaviors, the way we view ourself and the world, and the way we interact with other may look different. God's love always changes us and brings transforms us to our authentic self.

I believe that we all need spaces and times where healing can happen. Congregations need to hold space and time for healing. Some people may experience this in a worship service, others a small group, a Christian Education class, a meeting with a pastor, or even a fellowship event. Some of these times and spaces will just occur but it is my hope that congregations will provide intentional times and spaces for healing and restoration. This may be a class or series of classes on Spiritual Practices, invite someone with essential oil experience to talk about how essential oils can support and promote healing and well-being, provide a yoga class or gather moms together for support and healing. There are so many ways to do this. I pray congregations will embrace this aspect of command to love one another.

If you could find healing for anything-mind, body or soul what would it be? What is your greatest healing story? In what ways have you been restored? How has you congregation held intentional space and time for healing?

Capturing the Beauty Amongst the Chaos

According to my parents I have always loved to be outside and to create things. This is most likely why I find outdoor photography such a spiritual experience. It is one way God enters my soul -  grounding and transforming me. I find that if I go out into nature on photography walk I not only come back with some great shots but I come back more alive and in tune with myself and with God, for I have glimpsed (even captured) the beauty of God's creation in the chaos of this world.

If you look though my photographs either on this blog or other places they have been "displayed" you will notice that a majority of them are close up of objects with the exception of my sunset photographs. I was told once that the type of photography (close up vs. non close up) tells a lot about how you see/view the world. Thus, I think my photography reflects how I perceive the world and reveals something about how I relate to the world. If you know me well you know I am a very detail oriented person. I tend to focus on small aspects of a situation or project, sometimes forgetting to look at the larger picture. I like to hone into the the details because I believe they are often overlooked as an important aspect of a situation or project. The details reveal much about the whole. They can be messy as well as beautiful. Without the details there is no whole.

In my photography I love to look for the the beautiful in the chaos. I love to hone into one small part of a larger landscape and capture its beauty. In a world full of chaos we need to find ways to hone into the small aspects of our lives that give us joy, laughter, and beauty. I believe this is one ways God enters into our soul in the midst of chaos, struggle, or hopelessness. This is is what transforming love looks like.

One aspect of my passion and purpose is to hold space for individuals to catch a glimpse of beauty, joy and laughter. It is in this space that healing and wholeness can be experienced. I am honored to walk this journey with others through my photography, my future career as well as other times and places where this can occur.

What are your favorite types of photographs to look at? To ponder? What types of photographs make you cringe?

(So you might have been expecting some photographs...well this post was not about the photographs themselves but rather a written reflection on photography.)

Holding Space for Healing and Wholeness

As I have look back on my years in educational ministry I realized that I have always been drawn toward experiences that create and hold space for worship, prayer, noticing, healing and listening. I seem to come alive when I can create and plan experiences that allow individuals to notice and listen for the ways God's love is present in and around them. I want to be able to hold space and time for healing of mind, body and spirit. I want to come alongside people as they journey toward wholeness.

Part of my current journey and discernment is exploring what "holding space and time for healing of mind, body and spirit" looks like. This can take so many forms. I have so many things that interest and intrigue me from the use of essential oils to spiritual practices to massage to yoga to chakra/energy work...the list goes on. Somedays I think I see clearly what this looks like but many days it looks like a heavy fog has set in and I can only see rough outlines of what is ahead. On the one hand this is discouraging because feel like I should be able to see clearly and know what I want to "be when I grow up." On the other hand having so many possibilities and avenues gives me the opportunity to explore and really hone into to my particular niche and calling.

I am reminded that we do not discern alone but in community. So today I ask for two things. First I ask for your prayers. Second I ask that you take a moment to think about what you know about me (my gifts, skills, passions, personality etc.), what I have said above and let me know what direction you see God calling me. You can message me or put your thoughts in the comments. Thank you!

I also challenge you to think about spaces and places of healing you can hold for others.

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!