I have had the tickets for this conference for SIX WHOLE MONTHS and it is finally almost here! In less than a week, I will be traveling across the country *by myself* to hear some of my favorite authors, podcasters, and bloggers speak. I can hardly contain my excitement! EEK!
To help explain my excitement for this conference and to get real for a moment, a brief background:
Over the past three years, I have experienced some moments of profound loss and betrayal. These have greatly contributed to the acceleration of something that, unbeknownst to me at the time, had slowly been evolving in my life over the past 18 years. These events broke me to the point to where I am not the person I was 18 years ago, or even 5 years ago. After walking through a valley filled with doubts, grief, and many tears, something new has begun emerging in my life. Renewed faith. A strong desire to continue to grow, to love and learn from my neighbors, to pursue justice for all.
It has changed my relationships. It has changed my world view. And for these reasons, I’ve been hesitant to post about it publicly, because it hasn’t always been received well by people who knew me from before.
It has changed ME. And I thank God for that. I needed the push out of my complacency. Out of my apathy. Out of my “comfortable” faith. I am still on the journey and I still have issues to work through. But I am grateful.
So in the pursuit of truth and honesty, there it is. Well, some of it. There is so much more to tell and someday I may tell it. But for now, doubters and faith-shifters and wanderers are always welcome to message me. Deconstruction of everything you once held dear or thought to be true is uncomfortable. It is scary. It isn’t easy. It will change you and it may change your relationships. But you are welcome at my table anytime.