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There are so many ways to live this out and my hope for all of us is that we would in our own ways... literally there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world, there's a thousand ways and I know all of us are doing it already and our work in the world is to not stop, to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
The world right now is filled with much of the opposite than these words. It's oppressing, it's dividing, it's separating, it's demeaning, it's dehumanizing, it's powering up, it's harming, it's fearing. And so the biggest question that I've been asking for myself, for the community, for the refuge, for the circles that I live and move in is, what's our responsibility? And what can we do? What can we do?
[00:33:31]
The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world. And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm, keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just, you're not thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
[00:34:15]
The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world. And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm, keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just, you're not thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
[00:34:15]
The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world. And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm, keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just, you're not thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
[00:34:15]
The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world. And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm, keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just, you're not thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
[00:34:15]
The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world. And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm, keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just, you're not thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
[00:34:15]
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
[00:36:04]
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
[00:36:04]
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
[00:36:04]
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
[00:36:04]
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
[00:36:04]
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus. The kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left and we're here. And so with that. It means that we will always, always be healing.
[00:36:33]
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus. The kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left and we're here. And so with that. It means that we will always, always be healing.
[00:36:33]
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus. The kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left and we're here. And so with that. It means that we will always, always be healing.
[00:36:33]
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus. The kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left and we're here. And so with that. It means that we will always, always be healing.
[00:36:33]
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus. The kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left and we're here. And so with that. It means that we will always, always be healing.
[00:36:33]
The journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix -y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again. But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
[00:38:56]
The journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix -y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again. But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
[00:38:56]
The journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix -y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again. But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
[00:38:56]
The journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix -y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again. But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
[00:38:56]
The journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix -y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again. But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
[00:38:56]
When it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
[00:39:22]
When it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
[00:39:22]
When it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
[00:39:22]
When it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
[00:39:22]
When it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
[00:39:22]
Nobody can take that away from us. No system can, no political ideology, no social media posts. None of those things can take away our agency. And our agency is what says, who do I want to be and how do I want to be? And how can we move that in to action?
[00:39:58]
Nobody can take that away from us. No system can, no political ideology, no social media posts. None of those things can take away our agency. And our agency is what says, who do I want to be and how do I want to be? And how can we move that in to action?
[00:39:58]
Nobody can take that away from us. No system can, no political ideology, no social media posts. None of those things can take away our agency. And our agency is what says, who do I want to be and how do I want to be? And how can we move that in to action?
[00:39:58]
Nobody can take that away from us. No system can, no political ideology, no social media posts. None of those things can take away our agency. And our agency is what says, who do I want to be and how do I want to be? And how can we move that in to action?
[00:39:58]
No system can, no political ideology, no social media posts. None of those things can take away our agency. And our agency is what says, who do I want to be and how do I want to be? And how can we move that in to action?
[00:40:01]
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story because we know what we've experienced how we're still here despite so many obstacles, I'm still standing here, my youngest son died in 2019, it's a horrible hard story in our family but I'm still here and I don't need a degree to be able to share how I am still here and my family is making it the best that we can because that's our story.
[00:41:38]
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story because we know what we've experienced how we're still here despite so many obstacles I'm still standing here my youngest son died in 2019 it's a horrible hard story in our family but i'm still here and i don't need a degree to be able to share how i am still here and my family is making it the best that we can because that's our story.
[00:41:38]
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story, because we know what we've experienced, how we're still here despite so many obstacles. I'm still standing here, my youngest son died in 2019, it's a horrible hard story in our family, but I'm still here and I don't need a degree to be able to share how I am still here and my family is making it the best that we can because that's our story.
[00:41:38]
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story because we know what we've experienced how we're still here despite so many obstacles I'm still standing here my youngest son died in 2019 it's a horrible hard story in our family but I'm still here and I don't need a degree to be able to share how I am still here and my family is making it the best that we can because that's our story.
[00:41:38]
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story because we know what we've experienced how we're still here despite so many obstacles. I'm still standing here. My youngest son died in 2019. It's a horrible hard story in our family but I'm still here and I don't need a degree to be able to share how I am still here and my family is making it the best that we can because that's our story.
[00:41:38]
You can't change the world we can't change the world this group can't do it i can't do it my group can't do it we can't do it but we can change someone's world because the smallest things can make a huge difference so we need to own our part in the story.
[00:42:25]
You can't change the world we can't change the world this group can't do it I can't do it my group can't do it we can't do it but we can change someone's world because the smallest things can make a huge difference so we need to own our part in the story.
[00:42:25]
You can't change the world, we can't change the world, this group can't do it, I can't do it, my group can't do it, we can't do it, but we can change someone's world because the smallest things can make a huge difference.
[00:42:25]
You can't change the world. We can't change the world. This group can't do it. I can't do it. My group can't do it. We can't do it. But we can change someone's world because the smallest things can make a huge difference.
[00:42:25]
We have got to get around tables we have got to get in circles we have got to get outside in conversations next to one another we have to get to where these things are happening in real life heart to heart flesh to flesh it's proven this is scientific this isn't even spiritual that it's just better you get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
[00:42:58]
We have got to get around tables, we have got to get in circles, we have got to get outside in conversations next to one another, we have to get to where these things are happening in real life heart to heart flesh to flesh, it's proven this is scientific this isn't even spiritual that it's just better you get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
[00:42:58]
We have got to get around tables we have got to get in circles we have got to get outside in conversations next to one another we have to get to where these things are happening in real life heart to heart flesh to flesh it's proven this is scientific this isn't even spiritual that it's just better you get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
[00:42:58]
We have got to get around tables, we have got to get in circles, we have got to get outside in conversations next to one another, we have to get to where these things are happening in real life, heart to heart, flesh to flesh. It's proven, this is scientific, this isn't even spiritual, that it's just better. You get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
[00:42:58]
We have got to get around tables, we have got to get in circles, we have got to get outside in conversations next to one another, we have to get to where these things are happening in real life, heart to heart, flesh to flesh. It's proven, this is scientific, this isn't even spiritual, that it's just better. You get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
[00:42:58]
One of the reasons why despite losing so many formerly tightly held beliefs I have really held on to the person and the ways of Jesus and the example that Jesus has given to us and to remember right now especially when christian stuff is being hijacked in such a horrifying way to be cautious i'm trying to be cautious because i've wanted to distance myself from that completely and i've been trying to come back into the most thinner part of knowing that i know what i believe and what i see and what i know and another group of people don't get to define that and i think that's kind of what jesus was always saying.
[00:43:37]
One of the reasons why despite losing so many formerly tightly held beliefs I have really held on to the person and the ways of Jesus and the example that Jesus has given to us and to remember right now especially when christian stuff is being hijacked in such a horrifying way to be cautious I'm trying to be cautious because I've wanted to distance myself from that completely and I've been trying to come back into the most thinner part of knowing that I know what I believe and what I see and what I know and another group of people don't get to define that and I think that's kind of what Jesus was always saying.
[00:43:37]
One of the reasons why despite losing so many formerly tightly held beliefs I have really held on to the person and the ways of Jesus and the example that Jesus has given to us and to remember right now especially when Christian stuff is being hijacked in such a horrifying way to be cautious. I'm trying to be cautious because I've wanted to distance myself from that completely and I've been trying to come back into the most thinner part of knowing that I know what I believe and what I see and what I know and another group of people don't get to define that and I think that's kind of what Jesus was always saying.
[00:43:37]
We need to be creative and that means that every single person in this room is going to be a receiver of healing in a unique way because of your story and how we're wired and the context we live in and all of those things and then every single one of us can touch and participate in healing in our unique ways because of that.
[00:44:27]
We need to be creative and that means that every single person in this room is going to be a receiver of healing in a unique way because if you're you're you're you're you're you're you'restory and how we're wired and the context we live in and all of those things and then every single one of us can touch and participate in healing in our unique ways because of that and that one of the things that we have lost is creativity and expansiveness of possibility we've limited so many things down to such narrow constructs instead of wide and open.
[00:44:30]
One of the things that we have lost is creativity and expansiveness of possibility. We've limited so many things down to such narrow constructs instead of wide and open and I feel like right now because we are kind of in grip mode and clench mode and like survival mode it is really hard to be open and free and creative right now but this is where we have a great teacher and this is why I love the way that Jesus does things.
[00:44:55]
One of the things that we have lost is creativity and expansiveness of possibility. We've limited so many things down to such narrow constructs instead of wide and open and I feel like right now because we are kind of in grip mode and clench mode and like survival mode it is really hard to be open and free and creative right now but this is where we have a great teacher and this is why I love the way that Jesus does things.
[00:44:55]
We have lost some of that creativity and playfulness of Jesus and that he was fun he threw parties he connected people and he said really hard things in so many creative ways but one of the biggest things that I think on creativity for us in the healing space is to really know that each of us have different people in our lives each of us are wired a different way and what is helpful to healing for me healing process has always been in community that's been the most helpful thing to me it's just being a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives say it and open up my ability to share my story to you that's me some of you are wired totally different but the question remains for all of us what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again and ways that we can in small and simple ways offer healing to others.
[00:46:17]
Each of us have different people in our lives, each of us are wired a different way, and what is helpful to healing for me—healing process has always been in community, that's been the most helpful thing to me, it's just being a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives, say it and open up my ability to share my story to you—that's me. Some of you are wired totally different, but the question remains for all of us: what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again, and ways that we can in small and simple ways offer healing to others?
[00:46:42]
Each of us have different people in our lives, each of us are wired a different way and what is helpful to healing for me, healing process has always been in community, that's been the most helpful thing to me, it's just being a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives, say it and open up my ability to share my story to you, that's me, some of you are wired totally different but the question remains for all of us what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again and ways that we can in small and simple ways offer healing to others.
[00:46:42]
What is helpful to healing for me healing process has always been in community that's been the most helpful thing to me it's just being a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives say it and open up my ability to share my story to you that's me some of you are wired totally different but the question remains for all of us what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again and ways that we can in small and simple ways offer healing to others.
[00:46:49]
What is helpful to healing for me, healing process has always been in community. That's been the most helpful thing to me. It's just being a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives, say it and open up my ability to share my story to you. That's me. Some of you are wired totally different. But the question remains for all of us: what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again and ways that we can in small and simple ways offer healing to others?
[00:46:49]
Touches of healing some of the most powerful things that we could do are the simplest and that is simply saying and sitting down next to someone and asking how they are and sharing how we are sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water you all fed people here last week the refuge was really dedicated to people who are experiencing homelessness and without social safety net and everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems what they're looking for is the place to feel human to feel equal to get something in their bellies when I haven't eaten all night and to be able to rest and have a kind word that's it.
[00:47:45]
Touches of healing, some of the most powerful things that we could do are the simplest and that is simply saying and sitting down next to someone and asking how they are and sharing how we are. Sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water.
[00:47:45]
Touches of healing some of the most powerful things that we could do are the simplest and that is simply saying and sitting down next to someone and asking how they are and sharing how we are sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water.
[00:47:45]
Touches of healing, some of the most powerful things that we could do are the simplest, and that is simply saying and sitting down next to someone and asking how they are and sharing how we are. Sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water.
[00:47:45]
Touches of healing, some of the most powerful things that we could do are the simplest and that is simply saying and sitting down next to someone and asking how they are and sharing how we are. Sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water.
[00:47:45]
Everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems. What they're looking for is the place to feel human, to feel equal, to get something in their bellies when I haven't eaten all night and to be able to rest and have a kind word. That's it.
[00:48:14]
Everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems. What they're looking for is the place to feel human, to feel equal, to get something in their bellies when I haven't eaten all night, and to be able to rest and have a kind word. That's it.
[00:48:14]
Everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems what they're looking for is the place to feel human to feel equal to get something in their bellies when I haven't eaten all night and to be able to rest and have a kind word that's it.
[00:48:14]
Everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems, what they're looking for is the place to feel human, to feel equal, to get something in their bellies when I haven't eaten all night and to be able to rest and have a kind word, that's it.
[00:48:14]
My job there is not to sit down and figure out what's the path to housing today, how can I get you there today, that's what we do all the time is try and get here and forget this most simple thing of just human connection in creative ways.
[00:48:38]
Anything related to healing, anything related because we're humans and the human part of us, the ways we've been wounded, the ways that we've been harmed, losses that we've experienced, grief that we are navigating, whatever it is, it's the tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give.
[00:49:14]
Anything related to healing, anything related because we're humans and the human part of us, the ways we've been wounded, the ways that we've been harmed, losses that we've experienced, grief that we are navigating, whatever it is, it's the tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give.
[00:49:14]
Anything related to healing, anything related because we're humans and the human part of us, the ways we've been wounded, the ways that we've been harmed, losses that we've experienced, grief that we are navigating, whatever it is, it's the tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give.
[00:49:14]
Anything related to healing, anything related because we're humans and the human part of us, the ways we've been wounded, the ways that we've been harmed, losses that we've experienced, grief that we are navigating, whatever it is, it's the tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give.
[00:49:14]
The ways we've been wounded, the ways that we've been harmed, losses that we've experienced, grief that we are navigating, whatever it is, it's the tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give.
[00:49:21]
It's really vulnerable to receive and it's really vulnerable to give. And in thinking about this, you know, in terms of washing feet, that act in scripture of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, I don't know how many of you have had someone wash your feet. How did it feel? What'd you say? Good. Weird. Humbling. And what did you say? And honoring. Like humbling and honoring at the same time. It's super vulnerable. So who would much rather wash someone else's feet? 100%. I would way wash. I could wash anybody's feet. But to receive it, and I have had people wash my feet before, is probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble people who are trying to not be over or under another, but alongside in the human story and to receive as much as we give.
[00:49:33]
To receive it, and I have had people wash my feet before, is probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble people who are trying to not be over or under another, but alongside in the human story and to receive as much as we give.
[00:50:24]
To receive it, and I have had people wash my feet before, is probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble people who are trying to not be over or under another, but alongside in the human story and to receive as much as we give.
[00:50:24]
To receive it, and I have had people wash my feet before, is probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble people who are trying to not be over or under another, but alongside in the human story and to receive as much as we give.
[00:50:24]
It's probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble people who are trying to not be over or under another, but alongside in the human story and to receive as much as we give.
[00:50:26]
Be yourself. Everyone else is taken. So we all have to live this our way.
[00:51:04]
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me. And so in that, we can be ourselves.
[00:51:23]
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me. And so in that, we can be ourselves.
[00:51:23]
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me. And so in that, we can be ourselves.
[00:51:23]
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me. And so in that, we can be ourselves.
[00:51:23]
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me. And so in that, we can be ourselves.
[00:51:23]
Not too big, not too small. And the too big and the too small is really paralyzing and limiting. So when we just right -size ourselves in the human story, ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give, because every single one of us has something to give.
[00:51:46]
When we just right -size ourselves in the human story, ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give, because every single one of us has something to give. And just put it into perspective. For me, the big story is sometimes so complicated. And then I'm like, oh yeah, history. This is just our time in history. And we're being challenged in a way that needs creative ways of healing to make the world a better place.
[00:51:57]
When we just right -size ourselves in the human story, ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give, because every single one of us has something to give.
[00:51:57]
When we just right -size ourselves in the human story, ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give, because every single one of us has something to give. And just put it into perspective. For me, the big story is sometimes so complicated. And then I'm like, oh yeah, history. This is just our time in history.
[00:51:57]
When we just right -size ourselves in the human story, ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give, because every single one of us has something to give. And just put it into perspective. For me, the big story is sometimes so complicated. And then I'm like, oh yeah, history. This is just our time in history.
[00:51:57]
People do not care how they got healed. Do not care. They just want it. I don't know. All that I know, I was blind. but now I see and we saw the long list of all the ways everyone's trying to pick it apart does not matter to that person.
[00:52:37]
People do not care how they got healed. Do not care. They just want it. I don't know. All that I know, I was blind. but now I see and we saw the long list of all the ways everyone's trying to pick it apart does not matter to that person.
[00:52:37]
There are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world. There's a thousand ways and I know all of us are doing it already and our work in the world is to not stop, to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
[00:53:34]
There are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world there's a thousand ways and I know all of us are doing it already and our work in the world is to not stop to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
[00:53:34]
There are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world, there's a thousand ways and I know all of us are doing it already and our work in the world is to not stop to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
[00:53:34]
There are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world there's a thousand ways and I know all of us are doing it already and our work in the world is to not stop to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
[00:53:34]
Our work in the world is to not stop, to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right -sized and as patient as we can be because we will not see the fruit and healing of things that we plant but there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
[00:53:43]
All the churn and all the weird and all the hard and all the unknown, we are not alone. We're in good company with humans trying to do the best we can with what we have together.
[01:05:05]
All the churn and all the weird and all the hard and all the unknown we are not alone we're in good company with humans trying to do the best we can with what we have together together.
[01:05:05]
Thanks, David. It's fun to be with you all. I've been in this building multiple times with Pine Street Church, playing in some different ways. Do you remember that? Any of you here for the art show that we did? It was last May, and I have one of the pieces here from my friend Jenny Herrick, who died in 2022. So we're going to use one of her pieces today.
That backspace back there, the Off-Broadway, is one of my favorite places. Every time I'm here, I love what's up there. And then I've just been playing a lot over the years with All Souls Church. So I've been in this building. I love this building, and most of all, though, I love the people who are reimagining what it means to be the body.
You know, really, really hard world right now. The world is hard. And it's always been hard, and so that part is true, whether it is four years ago, eight years ago, 80 years ago. But we are in extra weird times. We are. It's unprecedented for some of us and what we're experiencing, and we're all trying to find our way in different ways.
And I believe wholeheartedly that a piece of the path forward is this: it's human beings together somehow trying to gather what we need to embody something different in the world. So I just want to— we're going to have some fun together for the next 20 minutes or so. And I think the biggest part I want to start with is—I’d love to hear, and you know what, I'm going to come down here. I wasn't sure. I'd rather be here.
And so I'm just curious today, what are some feelings in the room? So this is just like one word, maybe a short couple of words. What are some things that you all are feeling right now in your own life and in the ways that the world is right now? So whatever you feel comfortable, I'm going to repeat it back so that people who are watching from different places are able to hear it, and people that maybe can't hear could hear it better.
And I'll just start with it. I'm just feeling like really worn thin. That's probably the best word for me—worn thin.
What are some other feelings that you all are feeling today? Anxious, disgusted with the situation. Fatigued. Grieved. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Deceived. Disappointed. Say that again? Fear of government. Grief. Grateful.
Any other feelings that anyone wants to name? Exhausted. Those are a lot of hard things, and I know there's a lot more not being said, and there's a lot of people who aren't here able to share what they're feeling.
And in this world right now, I mean, we really, really need healing. And this topic that, for me, is just one of my most favorite things to talk about. And when David and Andrew reached out about filling in today, just said, hey, what's on your heart?
This is what's on my heart: that we need new ways for a new world. And the thing that makes me laugh about talking about healing, though, is this is not a new way. But we actually, I do believe this, we need to embrace healing in a new way and be a force for healing in a new way because we're in a new world.
Things are different, and it means that we have to adapt and respond in a different way. And so, hmm, is that something on my end? I'm good. Okay.
So, I just want to start with this, and I'm going to do my best on tech. I'm not the techiest person. But the definition of healing—there's a lot of definitions, but I really, I like this summary. And it is: to cause a wound, an injury, person, I would add system, or system, to become sound, or healthy again. That's what healing does. It's to cause a wound, or an injury, or something that a person has experienced, or a system, to become sound, or healthy again.
Amen.
And some other words for healing are relieving, repairing, remedying, rejuvenating, fortifying, reviving, ministering to, caring for, resuscitating, easing, helping, softening, restoring, mending.
And we all know this, that the world right now is filled with much of the opposite of these words. It's oppressing, dividing, separating, demeaning, dehumanizing, powering up, harming, fearing.
And so the biggest question that I've been asking for myself, for the community, for the refuge, for the circles that I live and move in is: what's our responsibility? And what can we do? What can we do?
And I always think that moving these things from like an idea into action is always what's needed. The world does not need more beliefs right now. It needs more embodied, tangible practices that show a different thing, that cause these things to happen in the world.
And that's why I even have it tattooed on my arm: keep practicing. Because when you're practicing, you're not just thinking. You're actually doing the thing that you want to come forth in the world. And it's always risky and it's always really vulnerable.
And so I do really think that we can be people who practice. And the practice of healing is like fundamental. It's fundamental to me and my faith. I was not raised in faith. I came to know Jesus kind of apart from my family in a totally different way.
And I can say that I sort of, my story starts with wide and inclusive. And then I had a season where I was in a very rigid, evangelical-y, fundamental-y system that was like this. And about almost 20 years ago, I deconstructed from some of that, unraveled from some of that, that didn't resonate anymore. But what has always resonated were the ways of Jesus. I did not lose that. And in fact, it's like expanded like this.
So I always say, mine was kind of like this, this, and it's this. And my hope is it'll be this and this and this much further. Because I really do think that that is the faith journey. And that if we are trying to follow the ways of Jesus, who healed in all kinds of creative ways, it means that we are going to be participants in that.
Our belief in Jesus is not going to make the world a better place. Our actions in response to Jesus are what's going to make the world a better place.
And so these are just a few things that I think we can do that can maybe help us. And whenever I share these things, it's not about you all doing that. It's about me doing it and trying to wrestle and struggle in the same way. Because it's really hard to show up in healthy ways right now.
The first is just to own that we have a part to play. It's not going to drop out of the sky. I always say this about Jesus: the kingdom is not going to drop out of the sky. It's a weird experiment. I'll never fully understand it. But like he left, and we're here. And so with that, it means that we will always, always be healing.
I go to 12-step recovery. I have 31 years of sobriety. The reason why I go to the 12-step meeting that I do at the refuge is really to work on codependency and unhealthy patterns that I learned way back at the beginning. I'm an adult child of an alcoholic, from a wild, weird family, all kinds of wacky things, and I'm a human being.
That's ultimately the way I go. It's not just because of my history. It's because I'm a human being trying to be healthier in a hard world.
And I remember with the 12-steps, I don't know who here knows the 12-steps, but I know this: everyone wants to be done at 12. And that is how we think of healing in general. We want to graduate.
And I remember telling people, because healing has always really been my thing—just creating spaces wherever we could be to be more honest, to be with other people who are more honest, and to have that honesty actually catalyze us to different ways of moving in the world.
And so everyone always said, when can I be done? When do I not have to do this anymore? And I'm like, that's not how it works. I mean, my hope is to have my butt in the chair. I'm 58 now, and I'm hoping until I'm not here anymore. My last days, I want to be somehow in that circle.
It doesn't have to look exactly like it looks now, but I want to be in that circle—noticing where I've been, honesty about who I am now, and openness to want to change and continue to grow.
And so that's not always the most hopeful thing for people, but I would say that it's just bad theology that we learned—that is, we learned a linear model on everything. And it was ladder, one step, move on, been there, done that, process that, therapize that, whatever it is, move to the next thing.
And the journey of healing is much more like this. That's helix-y, which is cleaner than it needs to be, but I would just say the piece is we're going to hit some of the same things in our lives over and over again.
But the beautiful part is it's always in a different place. It's always in a different place.
So the other thing—even though in 12-step recovery, the first one is that we're powerless over our addictions and our compulsive behaviors—is that when it comes to healing, we are not powerless. When it comes to embodying something different in this world, we are not powerless. We have agency.
And this project that I'm working on, kind of new ways for a new world, one is owning our agency—it's one of the practices. Another is cultivating healing, embracing paradox, dismantling binaries. There's a lot of other topics we could go off on. I'm going to keep it to cultivating healing.
But I do want to say this about agency: we have agency. Nobody can take that away from us. No system can, no political ideology, no social media post. None of those things can take away our agency.
And our agency is what says: who do I want to be, and how do I want to be? And how can we move that into action?
The other thing I just want to add is that one of the things that really happens a lot—this is really common right now because we're overwhelmed. And so it's really hard to know. But we have created a professional society.
When it comes to people hurting in the world, we say we're not equipped to do that. And we need to give that to them.
Professionals—I am a firm believer. I have a million therapist friends. I actually studied to be a therapist and realized I was a terrible one because I like to do things out of 50 minutes, and I kept thinking, when I was doing this, I have a master's in organizational development, and then I worked on this master's in counseling. I had students at Denver Seminary, and all I wanted to do was think about who I could connect them to in healing community—like, you should know this person, and you should know that person, and come to this.
You're not allowed to do that. So, um, that's when I switched to spiritual direction. But my point on that is: everything in mental health is so crucial, so crucial. So don't—I’m not dismissing that at all. But one of the things I do believe we've done is that we think we don't have a part to play because we're not trained, we're not equipped.
Every single person in this room is equipped because we have a healing story, because we know what we've experienced, how we're still here despite so many obstacles. I'm still standing here. My youngest son died in 2019. It's a horrible, hard story in our family, but I'm still here. And I don't need a degree to be able to share how I am still here, and my family is making it the best we can because that's our story.
My son Jared said something that I think I draw back on all the time. He was an outdoor lab leader, and he said, "You can't change the world, but you can change someone's world."
You can't change the world. We can't change the world. This group can't do it. I can't do it. My group can't do it. But we can change someone's world because the smallest things can make a huge difference.
So we need to own our part in the story. The second thing—I’m not going to say much about it—I’m just going to say we need to get off our screens. Get off our screens, whatever that looks like. Off our couches, off the TV. It doesn't mean those things aren't valuable in the way that we connect in 2025, but we have got to get around tables.
We have got to get in circles. We have got to get outside in conversations next to one another. We have to get to where these things are happening in real life—heart to heart, flesh to flesh. It's proven—this is scientific, this isn't even spiritual—that it's just better. You get something when you're with people together that you can't get in a screen.
The third thing—and this is where Jesus comes in. Well, Jesus comes into all of it, but I'll say this is one of my favorite things about Jesus and one of the reasons why, despite losing so many formerly tightly held beliefs, I have really held on to the person and the ways of Jesus and the example that Jesus has given us.
And to remember right now, especially when Christian stuff is being hijacked in such a horrifying way, to be cautious. I'm trying to be cautious because I've wanted to distance myself from that completely. And I've been trying to come back into the most authentic, thinner part of knowing that I know what I believe and what I see and what I know, and another group of people don't get to define that.
And I think that's kind of what Jesus was always saying. But when it comes to healing, we need to be creative. We need to be creative. And that means that every single person in this room is going to be a receiver of healing in a unique way.
Because of your story, how you're wired, the context you live in, and all of those things, every single one of us can touch and participate in healing in our unique ways because of that. And one of the things we have lost is creativity and expansiveness of possibility. We've limited so many things down to narrow constructs instead of wide and open.
And I feel like right now, because we are in grip mode and clench mode and survival mode, it is really hard to be open and free and creative. But this is where we have a great teacher—and this is why I love the way Jesus does things.
So, if you just think about the actual miraculous healings that Jesus did in the scripture—he did, I once listed them all out years ago, and I can't remember, but it was in the high 20s—the different ways he healed. Just a few: he called out evil spirits, he touched people, he had people touch the hem of his robe, he placed hands on eyes, he asked people to hold out their hands, he touched coffins, he sent demons into herds of pigs, he put fingers in ears, he spit on his hands and touched tongues—I didn't remember the other day—and then this one: he mixed spit with dirt and put mud on people's eyes.
So I really believe we've lost some of that creativity and playfulness of Jesus—that he was fun, he threw parties, he connected people, and he said really hard things in creative ways. But one of the biggest things I think about creativity for us in the healing space is to really know that each of us has different people in our lives, each of us are wired differently, and what is helpful to healing for me—healing process has always been in community.
That's been the most helpful thing to me: just being in a circle with honest people who share the truth about their story and their lives, say it, and open up my ability to share my story with you. That's me. Some of you are wired totally different. But the question remains for all of us: what are ways we can receive healing so that we can become more sound and healthy again? And ways that we can, in small and simple ways, offer healing to others?
And the thing I think is so tricky is that we complicate everything. We think it has to be a big program, a big plan, we have to know the answer. But touches of healing—some of the most powerful things we could do—are the simplest: just sitting down next to someone, asking how they are, sharing how we are.
Sometimes it's passing on a cup of cold water. You all fed people here last week—the refuge was really dedicated to people experiencing homelessness and without a social safety net. And everyone is not looking for someone to solve all their problems. What they're looking for is a place to feel human, to feel equal, to get something in their belly when they haven't eaten all night, and to rest and have a kind word. That's it.
And so my job there is not to sit down and figure out the path to housing today—how can I get you there today? That's what we do all the time: try to get here and forget this most simple thing—just human connection in creative ways.
And the part I want to say about this before we go to the last one and get a little chance to respond together is that it's really vulnerable. And that's why everyone likes to skip over the healing part and go straight to the doing part.
Because anything related to healing—anything related, because we're humans and the human part of us—the ways we've been wounded, the ways we've been harmed, losses we've experienced, grief we're navigating—those tender parts of our souls. And so it's really vulnerable to receive, and it's really vulnerable to give.
And thinking about this, you know, in terms of washing feet—that act in scripture of Jesus washing the disciples' feet—how many of you have had someone wash your feet? How did it feel? What'd you say? Good. Weird. Humbling. And what did you say? Honoring. Like humbling and honoring at the same time.
It's super vulnerable. So who would much rather wash someone else's feet? A hundred percent. I would way rather wash. I could wash anybody's feet.
But to receive it—and I have had people wash my feet before—is probably one of the best examples of what it really means to be humble, people who are trying not to be over or under another, but alongside in the human story, to receive as much as we give.
So the last thing I just want to say is that I believe my contribution to healing is also how important it is to be ourselves. I've kind of already alluded to it. One of the things I always share with my kids—I have five kids—it's the Oscar Wilde quote: "Be yourself. Because everyone else is taken."
Because everyone else is taken. So we all have to live this our way. When it comes sometimes to activism, change in the world, and all those things, we think that certain people are better at it. Certain people are doing it that way. Oh, I don't have time to do that. I'm not brave enough. I don't have this.
We all can be ourselves and do something. And we have to be ourselves. I can't be this person or that person. I'm just me.
And so in that, we can be ourselves. And then this is the last principle of recovery I'm going to share today: right-sizing ourselves in the story.
In 12-step recovery, that's a big part. Not too big, not too small. And the too big and the too small is really paralyzing and limiting.
So when we just right-size ourselves in the human story—ordinary people trying to find our way, trying to make this world a better place, with something to give—because every single one of us has something to give. And just put it into perspective: for me, the big story is sometimes so complicated. And then I think, oh yeah, history. This is just our time in history.
And we're being challenged in a way that needs creative ways of healing to make the world a better place.
And so, back to the scripture—I’ll just say, people do not care how they got healed. Do not care. They just want it. I don't know. All that I know is, I was blind, but now I see. And we saw the long list of all the ways everyone's trying to pick it apart does not matter to that person.
And when it all comes down to it, there are so many ways to live this out. And my hope for all of us is that we would, in our own ways—I'm going to pop this up as we close—to give a little time to process.
I love the Sufi poet Rumi, who says that there are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground. And I've always loved that, related to prayer and spiritual practices. There's like so many ways to do it.
But I think for today, what I want to remind myself and all of us is that literally, there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world. There's a thousand ways. And I know all of us are doing it already. And our work in the world is to not stop, to stay healthy and together and committed and faithful and right-sized and as patient as we can be. Because we will not see the fruit and healing of the things we plant.
But there are a thousand ways to be healers in this broken world.
So I always love to have a chance to just reflect back in a brief way with each other. Okay, so what this looks like—this might feel uncomfortable—but the other thing my son always said is: be comfortable being uncomfortable. Just being uncomfortable with that.
Some of you might love it if you're super introverted and you're like, I don't want to do that. Just don't do it. Because you can do whatever you need, because you can own your agency.
But I would love for us to take just five minutes and get in pairs or threes—whatever feels good. Turn to the person behind you if you're not next to somebody. And the question is just this: what do you want to take from today? Was there one word, phrase, thought—just anything from this conversation? It might have been from a song we sang before, what we heard about, band books—which I love, by the way.
And it might have been anything. It doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be from this. But then, what are some ways we can contribute to healing in this season? You can use either of those, or another one if you want. The whole idea is just to share—just briefly, a couple of minutes each person—to say thanks for sharing. You don't need to process a bunch back and forth.
But just to hear and say out loud something you want to take with you today—to ponder, like keep pondering this week, or be something like: I want to keep contributing this kind of healing in the world right now.
Okay, so I'm going to give you time to do that, and then I’ll bring us back together, and we’ll begin to close.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The image of a healer—strong and solid—and then there's that heart fire, that thing that comes from here, and that is love for humanity and transformation.
So I would just love for us to do a short embodied practice. They're going to play a little bit behind us. I'm just going to walk us through it. It's very short, and you can participate in any way that you want.
There is something about movement—when we were doing it earlier, the thing you do, I think, is that I felt it in my mind and my heart. And I felt it when I was doing it.
So we're going to do something short like that. And then, while the music is playing, I would love for you to get up if you can. If you can't, you can ask the person next to you to do it for you—that's how we share.
To light a candle and maybe think about an area of healing you want in your life right now. Maybe it's a person that you know needs healing. Maybe it's something you want to embody more of, despite feeling tired and overwhelmed. Whatever it is, every candle lit represents that. I encourage you to light multiple ones. We can light them all, and if they're all lit, we can pretend more have been added because we need as much light and healing and love and heart fire as we can get right now.
The movement is really simple. It just starts with—if you want to, close your eyes—and taking a deep breath into your heart, offering yourself right now some self-compassion. Many of us are doing the best we can with what we have. Just take a really deep breath there.
And if you feel comfortable, put one hand out. Sometimes I put both, but I like to keep my hand on my heart. And as you feel that outward movement, just offer healing to the people in this room, to the humans who are hard in our life, to connection in a unique and creative way—whatever that looks like.
And then, the last movement: just taking your four fingers and putting them together. Really feel that connection. Feel that support. And just remember, all the churn, all the weird, all the hard, all the unknown—we are not alone. We're in good company with humans trying to do the best they can with what they have, together.
And then, when you're ready, just come up and light a candle.
Let's pray for us. And then, things will come together. Thank you. Thank you.
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on Sep 11, 2025
