What makes it so frightening — the thought of baring my heart through written word? Perhaps what scares me is the reality whatever we put out on the “web” can never be fully removed. There’s a commitment in becoming an author who vulnerably shares the tales, trials and triumphs of a personal life story. But the words are banging on the doors of my soul, and there’s no peace in withholding the gems I’ve gathered along the raw, beautiful, rocky way of my journey to healing. I am not the only one who struggles with overcoming hidden pain. Isolation is a facade. We’re all connected, and no one is effected in their life — positively or negatively — without implications to the world around them. So why not share the gifts I’ve received out of the fire of trauma?

So today, I choose courageous living. I choose to say to the darkness of my past, “You can’t permeate my soul a moment longer.” I choose to say to the spirit of shame, “You have no standing here. I’m not alone.” I choose to show my scars; I choose to celebrate my successes. I choose to release myself into the unknown because I was born to live courageously. And living doesn’t come without glory as well as pain. Living a full, unadulterated, vulnerably authentic life means trial and error, fumbling in the direction of God’s whisper, and leaning into the uncomfortable moments and seasons of growing pains. But we’re in it together! I am not alone. You are not alone. Let’s share this journey, and walk in grace toward one another, bravely embracing that for which we were made: Shared community. Honest conversation. Compassionate humility. Merciful understanding — even if our life paths or personal beliefs look very different.

This blog is dedicated to my fellow wounded (in-the-midst-of-healing) warriors, to the weary life-travelers, to those who recognize they don’t have it all “together”. These stories and poems and art are for the shattered of heart. Because there’s an invitation waiting for you — a secret I’ve heard whispered in the treasure troves of my soul — and it’s this truth: not one piece of us has been lost. ALL of us, ALL of our personhood, ALL of our story is necessary for our living and is regarded as priceless to God. We have been wholly preserved, our whole heart, even — yes, even — if it doesn’t look or feel like it.

There’s one caveat: This isn’t a place to rehash pain for the sake of poking old wounds. Jesus doesn’t allow us to relive the horror of the past in order to rewound us. We dig into the wreckage with Him by our side so that together we can rebuild the life He created us to live. With this truth in mind, I find an intense longing for the rare beauty born out of ashes; not to make sandcastles in the ash-heap of trauma or to remain a victim.

This blog is also a place for people who have a very different life story to see a bit into the soul of a trauma survivor. Whether you know it or not, you are surrounded by survivors of all manner of trauma: physical, mental, emotional, sexual and spiritual wounding. We don’t expect you to understand our pain if you’ve never encountered what we have. Also, people react and process life and trauma differently. What greatly effects me may be nothing but a blip on your radar, and vice versa. But in all things, compassion is needed. I invite you into my journey with a humble heart, and ask that through the vulnerable sharing of my life’s story, you might be more open to coming alongside those who are hurting in your own circle of influence.

Here’s to the wild abandon of courageous whole-hearted living…