I hold my cards close in a conversation about faith and spirituality. Not because I have shame around my beliefs—but pain around my church experience. My story is difficult to nuance and I rarely discuss it casually. However, in one sentence it could be summed up by this: I started an ordination process that after 4 years (and a Master’s of Arts in Theology) ended due to being a woman.
I often find that my greatest pain, deepest wounds, or lonely experiences lead to a sense of calling/vocation. This experience was devastating. It felt like a nightmare. But led me to my three passions/goals:
1. To empower and gather women
2. To advocate for expansive spirituality
3. To create avenues for women to lead
That’s part of my story and I am learning how to tell it.
I tell you this story because, on my last episode of Bold, I interviewed Amy Leigh Bamberg. We discussed the need for spiritual transformation. She told her story of growing up in Western Evangelicalism and said the following sentence:
Amy Leigh’s insight on the health of a spiritual community profoundly relates to my own experience. I went through the excruciatingly poor treatment of women and witnessed the lack of spiritual vitality. This is repeated time and time in so many people’s stories.
Amy Leigh and I both agree (and discuss on the episode) the reality that we all have a deep longing for spiritual health. In a climate of Christianity being used for political ends and the extreme division of left and right, the conversation of spirituality can get murky. It’s time we found that old path. Not the fancy, glitzy, overdone, fake version of faith, but the real genuine, nearly inexpressible version.
I am grateful that people like Amy Leigh are working hard to create a context for people to find the space and safety required to discuss their spiritual journey. Check out her (and my dad’s) organization, Old Paths. They are both Spiritual Directors, aiming to accompany people on their journey.
Here are a few more things:
I’ve been listening to this song on repeat. I hope you like it.
The book, Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day is a great read.
I hope to launch another book club in September, would you be interested in joining online?