Welcome
If we conceal our wounds out of fear and
shame, our inner darkness can neither be
illuminated nor become a light for others.
- Brennan Manning
Welcome fellow travelers.
I have found this road we're on to be full of twists and turns and taking us on detours we would have never chosen. It is my belief that these detours and these unexpected, unwanted harbingers of sorrow are actually the hidden jewels of redemption. I believe that if we will not turn our backs, we will in fact be transformed into people of heart and radical beauty.
So many times, suffering can lead us to a place of isolation, where it can gnaw at our souls and wear away at everything we thought to be good inside. As an enemy, it's brutal, but as a teacher, suffering can lead to a miraculous transformation. Such people who have lost all control of their lives, who have reluctantly let suffering have its way, suddenly become lights for others. A humble power becomes us, and we can truly be a force for others who have lost their way.
So, walk with us a while. Know that you're not alone. Rather your suffering has led you to the largest fellowship on the earth. And this fellowship is an untapped force that once mobilized, can influence the world in unprecedented power, with a depth of compassion rare in those who have never lost. While none of us ever signed up for this, our souls are now postured toward growth, toward genuine peace - the kind that surpasses understanding. Shall we go for it?
"Faith means striking out with no clear
end in sight, and perhaps no clear view of the next step. It
means following, trusting, holding out a hand to an invisible Guide."
- Philip Yancey, "Reaching For the Invisible God"