Losses of any kind involve change and will challenge who we are. I used to be a wife, husband, parent, and executive; a healthy and active person. I used to have a full time job. I used to know where I was going and what I wanted to do. I had well prepared goals and…
Posts Categorized: The Counselor Is In
When Tragedies Expose Our Vulnerabilities
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (New Oxford Annotated Bible) I was asked once if I thought the only way we would discover God was through pain or loss. I’ve thought a lot about that. Surely it doesn’t take tragedies to experience God. And yet, I…
In What do you Believe?
In my church we recite a statement of faith each Sunday morning; “I believe in God the Father . . . etc.” For some people this might seem unimportant ritualistic dogma. And yet by repeating this simple creed, or statement of belief every Sunday, we are reminded of who we are and in what we…
Is your God Dead? Mine is Alive and Well
While researching some information on the internet I accessed a prominent psychology site and was startled to see in large bold words a heading that spoke to government, socialism, the rise of atheism and the decline of religion. There were a series of blog postings by a prominent psychologist and anthropologist who spoke to research…
Replace Control with Take Charge
In my stress workshops, I often use the example of a clenched fist to demonstrate the pressure we put on ourselves to maintain control over our life and an extended hand, palm side up to indicate the ability to be in charge. It takes more and more energy to keep that hand tightly clenched. Just…
Accept Vulnerability
Face your anxiety and fears. When we engage our fears rather than run away from them, we can use our darkest moments to reach a new level of acceptance, appreciation and gratitude. Affirm your worth in the midst of your emotional turmoil. Accept vulnerability We hang onto perceptions of ourselves that we try to hide…
Struggles Require Grace and Time
It takes time to process information. As fast as we can access information anytime and anywhere, it still takes time to apply and integrate knowledge into our daily lives. It takes even longer to use newfound clarity to heal old wounds. As we wrestle with those dark nights of questioning and confusion and misunderstanding, it…
In the Darkness of the Night
Who has not experienced the struggle to believe and understand and make sense of the situations we find ourselves? Like Jacob of the Old Testament we have done all we could to make amends; yet in our resolve we realize it is not enough to make things right. Like Job we angrily confront God. We had done all the…
Letting Go – Taking Control
Years ago, when I was helping design and write a ten week class on living with chronic illness for a large HMO, I designed the following handout. I share it with you today. LETTING GO – TAKING CONTROL “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering….
Letting Go
When I have reconciled to unwanted change, I can let go of all the things I thought were so important, so crucial in my life. I discover all the things I thought defined me might really be so much “vanity”. “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 The perfect…