“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.” Isaiah 50:4
I’m an introvert. Put me in a room with three or more people, especially people I don’t know, and I may not say a word for hours. The good news is, if you need someone to listen, I’m a good person to call.
But don’t let the silence fool you. I have a lot of thoughts, thoughts shaped by an early life that never should have happened to a child, years of searching for healing, years of trying to find my significance, years of trying to find my voice. I’m an education junkie: I have a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology, master’s degrees in business administration and theology, and certifications in ISO 9000, instructional design, creativity in business, and art in healing. I’m still wondering if I have the time and resource to pursue a Ph.D. or a D.Min. My later years in corporate training and organizational development were punctuated by a stint as a grief counselor, which ultimately led me to my current role as a hospital chaplain. At an age when most people have retired, I finally figured out what I want to do when I grow up. It is never too late.
There’s a lot of hard-earned wisdom here, rooted in grief and transformed by love. I hope some of it is helpful.