Encouraging one another, all the more
One of the privileges I have in my job is to come alongside college freshman women who are interested in exploring spirituality/their beliefs and those who are desiring to take their next steps with God. A couple weeks ago one girl asked the group, “Does it seem hard to anyone else to live out all of the things that God asks of us?”
Have you heard the phrase, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind?” I ran into this phrase over and over again as I was trying to decide what path I wanted to walk through academically. For a few years now, I have been toying with the idea of achieving a degree. My initial thought was that a degree in Medical Administration would be ideal. Since my husband is about to finish his master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner and possibly open his own practice, a Medical Administration degree would be practical and fit into our family goals. I could then stencil the phrase “In a world where you can be anything, be kind” into “our office” lobby and make it “our office” mantra. I even visualized the billboard, “Hernandez and Associates, spreading kindness one patient at a time.”
If you read, my previous blog from a fews years ago regarding depression, you will know that depression is something I have struggled with on and off for more than half my lifetime. One thing you should know about me in particular, is that I tend to “hide” my depression and emotional turmoil from myself and my community. I put on the mask of having it all together. I go to work as a psychotherapist and convince myself that what I’m going through is not nearly as bad as what my clients are enduring and experiencing. (Which, I want to point out, is a lie. Regardless if you’ve had a simple life or if you’ve had many hardships and trials, your depression is very real and valid.) I tell myself that the coping skills, encouragement, and advice that I provide my clients somehow does not apply to myself. After spending […]
“Nothing is sacred.” It’s a phrase often used to convey horror at the lack of respect bestowed upon a subject that had previously been designated off limits. These things range from religious symbols and objects of moral value (think, sanctity of human life) to even the more general things that, if violated, would cause a great amount of discomfort (“Boss cancelled Taco Tuesdays…is nothing sacred anymore?”).
I like to talk. If you’ve ever met me in person, you’re probably thinking, “Wow, Kathryn. Shocker.” I know. Hear me out. It’s not that I don’t like silence or being quiet. I’m actually very comfortable in it. It’s that when I’m with other people, I want to communicate. I want to share stories and ideas and information. Silence feels like lost opportunity!
When I first came to truly understand what the gospel says in college, that understanding was primarily as a result of discovering the joy of digging into Scripture. Throughout high school, I never understood why we were asked to mull over what deep meanings were tucked away in the books we had to read. Yet when I was taught later that the Bible had many different meanings that were discoverable if only we take the time to meditate and search the Scripture (Acts 17:11), I was overwhelmed with excitement and curiosity. I knew I would never be able to understand it all, but I would seek to do so as much as I could.
Recently, I’ve been studying 1 Corinthians and the number of times Paul has drawn me to the word “stand” has blown me away.
It is there when all other feelings are muted. It is an ache that turns deep in one’s heart. It is heartbrokenness that cuts deep like a sword. It may last hours into the night, walk with you for days on end, or hit you for a brief moment. That is what I call that feeling– the deep hurt. Maybe you’ve experienced it and have your own name for it, maybe you have yet to experience it. Maybe it was caused by circumstances out of your control like deep disappointment or betrayal, or an experience like a family member or friend passing away, a phone call with heartbreaking news.
When I think of the phrase “whatever you do”, it usually follows with a warning. “Whatever you do, don’t do _this_.” But the Apostle Paul phrased it in a positive way:
In 2011, I became a Christian. One of the first things I was encouraged to do was spend “quiet time” with God every morning. The reasons for quiet time included: to know God, know His word, practice prayer and studying the Bible, journal and process, renew my mind, mature in the faith, confess and repent, fellowship with Holy Spirit. Doing these things would help me be so filled with God I’d overflow with His love towards others. Like I said, all good reasons!