1. I don’t think it mere coincidence that I was sitting in the importance of self-friendship on the cusp of a much needed fall break and hearing in a new way some of Brene Brown’s teaching of shame.
2. I have listened to Brene Brown on Super Soul Sunday numerous times but it is hitting me more deeply this time. She defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling that we are unworthy of love and belonging.” I am certain this is connected to unkind self talk I referred to in my previous post. Where is shame holding me captive?How am I shaming my children and those I love? I see it, but I don’t. The concept is still so foggy and has more tentacles than I could imagine. Lord help me see and label shame and shine light on it.
3. What does true spiritual community and belonging look like? I am starting a new Larry Crab book on the subject because so much curiosity and longing for more has been churning in my heart. What are we striving for in regards to community? What is the goal? What hard work must we do to make community where people are truly seen and known? Surely this answer isn’t reduced to a small group at church. There are some good ones out there but there are also a lot of bad ones.
I am talking about wanting to be vulnerable and brave and revealing my true self along side of others. Is that possible? Aren’t we lucky is we just have 1 to 2 folks in life we can be completely ourselves with? So are we supposed to strive for a larger community? Or be content with 1 or 2?
4. This weekend at least 25 times my conversation with my husband came back to the idea of longing to be content with God seeing me and counting me worthy and that being enough…what if I actually believed this and lived from this place…kinda makes me laugh it sounds so simple…ha!
5. All these thoughts on shame, growing in a place of unconditional friendship, content with God seeing me and calling me worthy, and true community all lead me to the place of wanting so much for my kids, our family. The ‘answers’ to these thoughts that are churning in me directly effect how we live our lives and the choices we make daily. What does a ‘healthy’ God honoring family look like? What ideals are currently framing our decisions for our family? Are they being framed more by the world and even American Christianity or by God’s heart, a deeper spirituality? Whether you have kids and a family of your own or not, we must wrestle with these concepts or else we are just cogs in the wheel of our time.
For the sake of your kingdom that is to come please help me wrestle with these ideas and seek your face. May you be made much of as we prepare and wait for your coming!!
The Road We Are On 