Good Eats and Thoughts of a Contemplative Feeler

Have you wondered about what allows someone to be vulnerable? What circumstances or factors allows someone to disclose deep parts of their soul to another person? The religious/spiritual answer would be that it just happens. As I've considered my own acts of vulnerability and God's self-revelation to humanity (aka God as Jesus of Nazareth), I think a helpful explanation can be found in psychology and relationship analysis. Before I dive into the science-y stuff, let me reflect aloud on my own experiences. After the death of my maternal grandmother in fifth grade, I pretty much became an emotional shut-in.  I didn't allow myself to develop deep friendships. I didn't allow myself to open up to people emotionally (at least authentically). I didn't like sharing about my experiences and struggles. During the summer after my first year in college--where I experienced what an intimate relationship with God is and what authentic community looks and feels like--God provide

I write this post knowing that I have twenty-seven final papers (I graded two and then tapped out after xP) to grade but zero motivation to grade them. I write this post with just having given the lecture about Acts 28 and explaining to the students how all we have read is the culmination of Jesus' commission for the disciples to be his witnesses and their empowerment at Pentecost. I write this post with many thoughts and feelings floating through my mind as my first semester of teaching wraps up and I reflect on how far God has brought me since this time last year. Most people don't know that--at this time last year--I knew that my ministry and employment at The Bridge was coming to an end as there were plans for me to part ways with them at the end of the summer. At this time last year, I was also waiting on hearing back from Trinity Lutheran to see if they were going to offer me my current ministry role. On top of all this, I was getting ready to graduate from seminary. As