As you might suspect, there is more to my story than what appears on the front page. While it’s true that a writer, spiritual director, and leadership coach, there are more important things you should know about me.
My life is rich and multi-layered. I have a deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ that nourishes and sustains me, a family who loves me, meaningful friendships, and a life that—on most days—brings me overwhelming joy and contentment.
But my life is also sometimes hard and complex. I have lived with chronic pain and illness most of my adult life—specifically, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Recently, I’ve had new diagnoses I’ve had to come to terms with, most notably, a sensory ataxia that affects my gait and balance. While my health challenges have never defined me, they have shaped my faith and given me a unique perspective on life. My pain, as well as life’s riches, have made me the woman I am today, and for that, I am grateful.
Despite life’s challenges, or perhaps because of them, my faith is the cornerstone of my life. But I am also grateful that I get to do the work I do — to share others’ stories of overcoming adversity, to write about topics others are hesitant to tackle, like emotional abuse, loss, and living with chronic pain and illness. I count it a privilege to walk alongside established and emerging church leaders as they wrestle with God’s call on their lives and establishing a healthy rhythm of life and ministry. My work with leaders in the marketplace is just as exhilarating.
I hope that by sharing even a small part of my story, you might realize that no matter what life throws at you, pain and suffering is not the end of the story. There is always more—a way through the pain, a path leading toward life and peace.
