So good! As someone who grew up in the church as well this hit close to home. If God is truly the infinite and abundant, getting to know God, in my experience, looks a lot like life long learning and that "testing ground" of self. Otherwise we become abandoned temples left intentionally blind.
I always enjoy reading your work Leslie! Keep it coming!
"Much of personal growth and change means destroying our lives and belief structures as we know them and opening ourselves up to something new. It takes an incredible amount of courage to embark on that journey."
It's almost easier when you don't know this and you just take the leap not realizing everything is being blown up. Then you want to help others but I agree with your final sentiment, it's hard to push people when it's not their time to change.
"Going through necessary pain is often indispensable for relieving unnecessary pains in our lives." This is a great way of describing the necessity of personal growth and professional development.
This really moved me and I thought of saying something but forgot, and now I remembered! Absolutely moving and beautiful piece, and a astounding metaphor to boot! Change and growth ain't always easy, and the painful part is perhaps the order of nature. And setting ourselves as examples for other people, this is something that we shall all aspire to!
"...they leave themselves intentionally blind."
So good! As someone who grew up in the church as well this hit close to home. If God is truly the infinite and abundant, getting to know God, in my experience, looks a lot like life long learning and that "testing ground" of self. Otherwise we become abandoned temples left intentionally blind.
I always enjoy reading your work Leslie! Keep it coming!
Thanks Steven! Good to hear it resonates with someone who's seen it too.
Dropping bombs this week Leslie!
"Much of personal growth and change means destroying our lives and belief structures as we know them and opening ourselves up to something new. It takes an incredible amount of courage to embark on that journey."
It's almost easier when you don't know this and you just take the leap not realizing everything is being blown up. Then you want to help others but I agree with your final sentiment, it's hard to push people when it's not their time to change.
Ha, that's true! Maybe that's why so much change happens when we're young and not all that aware of our surroundings.
"Going through necessary pain is often indispensable for relieving unnecessary pains in our lives." This is a great way of describing the necessity of personal growth and professional development.
It is! I'm so glad Matt mentioned it on Twitter. I wouldn't have been able to separate those two things as clearly as I can now without his help.
This really moved me and I thought of saying something but forgot, and now I remembered! Absolutely moving and beautiful piece, and a astounding metaphor to boot! Change and growth ain't always easy, and the painful part is perhaps the order of nature. And setting ourselves as examples for other people, this is something that we shall all aspire to!
Great writing as always, Leslie. Reminds me of Robert Frost’s poem (The Road Not Taken), aka personal growth: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”