Free to Love - Transforming Pain Into Peace Free to Love - Transforming Pain Into Peace

In our final episode of Season 1, our final conversation explores the power of orienting ourselves. Each of us has an innate desire to become. To grow. To change. Somewhere along the way, many of us have experienced something that warps that. It narrows our vision and pulls the horizon of hope downward. The central question at the heart of this podcast has been: "Are you becoming a more loving person? Are you growing in your depth and capacity of to give and receive love?

This is to be a thrilling journey, not a joyless slog. An organic emergence, not a tortuous white-knuckled affair. Yes, it requires effort and intention. But, it is primarily driven by the creative power of God's gracious move towards us.

In this week's conversation we explore this theme of Becoming and the many ways it is a crucial orientation in the healing journey.

We continue our conversation around the complex and pressing issue of trauma, exploring the ways that damaged trust distorts our view of God, self and others. We ask the question: "Where is God in the midst of trauma?" We then pivot to strategies for healing and developing trauma resilience.

One of the biggest obstacles to the healing journey and enjoying the freedom to love is a resistance to reengaging those deepest places of pain in your lives. Trauma, both big and small, left unaddressed is hindering us from experiencing the fullness of life we long for. In recent years there has been an explosion in the public awareness of trauma, its sources and effects. While this is to be celebrated in so many ways, the casual invocation of trauma can actually be counter-productive to developing an accurate understanding of what it is and how we can begin to deal with it. In this week’s conversation Jenn Ahl and I begin a two-part conversation around the topic of Trauma. What is it? What is it's impact? How do we address it and begin the path of healing.

We have all experienced the powerful pull toward bitterness. The pain of betrayal, and rejection, big and small, arms us with a powerful energy that we so often use to justify our intransigence, firmly planting ourselves in the place of victimization and justifying a destructive entitlement. Left unattended, the roots of bitterness deepen, distorting our perception of reality and robbing us of life and light, the joy and intimate relationships we all long for. This conversation explores the nuances of bitterness and exposes many of its dark fruit, while pointing towards the power we have to leave bitterness behind.

Forgiveness is a doorway. A portal through which we can leave behind the pitiful prison cell of bitterness and the self-limiting victim mentality that empowers our mistreatment of others and step out into an expansive new land of freedom, joy and healing. Yet, we so often refuse to take the necessary steps to access our healing and new life. For many of us, this may because we misunderstand what forgiveness is and the crucial distinction between it and reconciliation. Many of us carry a shallow view of forgiveness that seems to downplay violation and injustice. However, as we explore in this conversation, forgiveness does not dispense with the need for justice, nor demand that we remain open to abuse or mistreatment. Rather, it empowers us to be free of past wounds and move with intention towards healthier lives and relationships.

Everywhere it seems, the topic of sexuality is the source of pain and division, misunderstanding and fear. In many ways, this is deeply understandable given how intimately intertwined our sexuality is with our sense of identity and our capacity to live a joyous and meaningful life. Similarly, many of our fiercest hopes and longings are tied to sexuality, so too are our fears and many of our deepest woundings. Because of sexuality’s power, both culturally and individually, it is crucial that we re-orient the conversation, prioritizing a deeper view and posturing ourselves to explore with humility, sensitivity and care rather than using simplistic dogmas that perpetuate the shame vs. shameless dynamic that seems so presently ascendant. May this conversation invite you to slow down and marvel at the beauty of sexuality, confront the shame-based narratives driving our understanding, and experience God’s desire to heal and order our sexuality
so that it results in freedom and flourishing.