Easter Greetings! He is risen, Alleluia! Alleluia!

In a recent workshop we focused on the themes that emerge in our life story and narrative (Narrative is the story we tell ourselves about ourselves). Our most powerful question is embedded in those themes. That is why it is so important to see past the negative influences and traumatic events that may have befallen us along the way. All of us have experienced woundedness of one sort or another, and it is critical that we not make that our identity. There are ways to move forward, sometimes by embracing our wounds, rather than being shackled by them. Doing so can free us to see ourselves as God does.

The proof that we exist is that we have relationships. How many of us are trying to exist without relationships, especially without a relationship with God who brought us into existence in the first place. I think we are seeing both sides of that in the Ukraine. A people united in defending their homeland, and a dictator who is a god unto himself.

Psychologists tell us that we begin developing an identity when we begin seeing our life as a story. Purposeful living requires that we examine that story through the lens of a powerful question and decide if we want to continue as an observer or as a co-author and producer.

Letting go is a stumbling block for those of us who are raised to believe we can control whatever life presents us with. Maintaining that illusion sets the stage for anxiety and related problems. Finding the Powerful Question embedded in our life story allows us to experience the liberation of “not knowing,” and moves us toward a more God-centered way of life.

There are no words that adequately describe the magnitude of Christ’s birth in a Bethlehem manger. This is a love incarnate, this is a love beyond measure. We cannot earn it or deserve it. We can only reach out for it and say thank you.