Day 11: What I discovered when I shared my faith story.

I had a long conversation with a woman yesterday. She had invited me on a walk to hear my ‘faith story.’  She is forty years younger than me and was raised in a slightly more extreme version of the world I raised my kids in. We had met earlier this summer, and she had heard ‘pastor’s wife who left the church,’ and she wanted to know more.

Sharing my story with her was such a gift for me. I realized the journey I have been on and how the seeds were planted earlier than I realized. I also finally understood something that had never made sense to me in my story. It’s a long explanation, but in recalling it and verbalizing it, I actually heard myself repeat three times that I had gone against my own better judgment based on the opinions of people who I felt had more spiritual authority or depth than I did. Wow!  That lack of discernment landed me in Mozambique during one of their worst natural disasters and led to a psychotic reaction to Malaria medication.

I came away with a new understanding of the significance of sharing my story. I am sure that my experience gave this young woman food for thought, but more importantly, it gave me clarity on my own journey.

This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in reflecting on and writing our stories. We never know what we will discover when we do. And if you aren’t sure where to begin, check out this resource.