Sharing My Heart
/The end of July I was in TX with Brené, the leadership team, and the other Case Consultants getting trained on the Rising Strong curriculum. As case consultants, we guide new candidates in integrating the Daring Way™ material into their context. I have the unique position of being an ordained clergy member in this group of about 50 coaches, researchers, therapists, and counselors; so I am constantly learning and growing each time we are together.
The next day the room was buzzing with the energy 140 new candidates brought. Brené asked the case consultants to stand and share a bit about who we are and what we do.
I love how Psalm 15 talks about those who dwell in the Lord’s sanctuary speak the truth from their hearts. That is what I wanted to do; to really share my heart. So I said,
“What gets me up in the morning and keeps me up waaaaay too late at night is my big daring dream that this work can heal, transform, and ignite congregations. As a pastor myself for many years, I know where shame and scarcity lurk in the church basement. In order to support this dream, I lead workshops, intensives and small groups for clergy and church leaders, do individual coaching, and love to do guest preaching.”
I went with my heart; not just what I do but the passion God’s planted in my heart for uniting faith and courage with Brené's research. Creating safe scared spaces for clergy to speak truth about their struggles, seeing the a-ha's women have on retreat when they can now name what shame is, and linking all of this with the resurrection of Jesus. What God is doing in all this that was the best part - and it gets me so excited!
The next best part? The sense what I spoke really connected; there was head nodding, laughter, and some audible, “yeahs!” A few people stopped to say how inspired they were. This connection reinforced for me just how much openness, hunger, and fertile ground there is right now in the church for us to do develop our resiliency skills as Christ's servants.
The next best part? I left with the sense it really connected; there was head nodding, laughter, and some audible, “yeahs!” A few people stopped to say how inspired they were. This connection reinforced for me just how much openness, hunger, and fertile ground there is right now in the church for us to do develop our resiliency skills. We want more real in our faith communities. I think we want more real everywhere - more authentic real connection with each other.
We are hungry to live into Psalm 15:2b when we ‘speak the truth from our hearts.’ I believe the Holy Spirit is moving in these Daring Way™ for Faith Community events to help us do just that . . . and to live in response to God’s grace.
