I’m a life-long extroverted, redheaded Texan. While I have advanced degrees in psychology, theology, and health and kinesiology, I’m also grateful to have worked in Outdoor Education/Ropes Courses as well as teaching fencing, self-defense, Country and Western Dance, and bowling!!
I’ve worked in social services in direct care and as an administrator and am currently the Ex. Dir. of a non-profit organization working for peace and justice and also an On-Call Chaplain for Hospice Austin. I’m the interim pastor, Sundays only, for a great little country church in Niederwald that is surprisingly progressive! They are a warm and wonderful bunch of folks.
I’m trying to find time in my schedule to get back into TKD, as I’m very close to my black belt and instructor stripe, and miss teaching the little ones. I spend a lot of time at dog parks with my rescued border collie, Hank, who is a joy. Luckily, he gets along well with my two rescued cats, Peanut and Punkin. I also spend time in w women’s African drumming group. It is a beautiful and powerful part of my week with an incredible group of women.
I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church and, while I am deeply grateful for many wonderful things I learned there, I was grateful to find the UCC and it’s focus on equality, peace, and justice for all people. I believe far too many have been shown a style of Christianity and a Church that’s cold, harsh, and rejecting. It doesn’t fit my view of who God is or who we are supposed to be as followers of Jesus to get so caught up in the details.
Jesus kept it simple, LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. I sum it up like this, “God loves us, now let’s go do good in the world”. I think when we really understand how much God loves us, and get over the “hell-fire-and-brimstone” stuff we’ve been taught, then we can be free to live fully, love wastefully, and lead courageously as Jesus and others have done.
Come tell me your story. I’d love to hear from you. When we learn from one another what their view of God is like, it simply increases and enriches our own view of this big, wonderful God that refuses to fit into any box!
