Beginning the conversation ...

So I have a stack of books that will be wonderful resources. I haven't had a chance to read any of them yet so I can't yet share that soon to be had knowledge. I have been emailed and texted this week from various people who are a part of our family ministry with questions and challenges.

Marriage is hard, raising kids is hard, life is hard and many of us all face the same questions. Too often I find myself in a room facilitating a DivoreCare group where the pain and emotion distress permeates the room. So I wonder: is there anything I (we, as a church) could have done to prevent this pain and suffering?

Are we a community (in the larger sense of that word) that is willing to be open and honest with our challenges? Are we willing to be authentic, vulnerable, humble, willing to learn, willing to share? I'll be honest, I don't have all of the answers. But I do see trends and I am a good listener. From that, I do have a handful of answers to some very frequently asked questions.

The maybe-not-so-unusual thing is that there are a lot of the same challenges that run through the structures of relationship and I think there are some core elements that can help to to build and lift these up. But how do we begin?

Living life, we are busy and often miss patterns.  We Google 'what is this bump on my leg, why does my child wake up every 4 hours, how do I lose 10 pounds.' Do know how to search the triggers for many of the conflicts in our life? Why are we still having the same argument? Why does my spouse say hurtful things? Why does my friend always walk away when I need him/her most? ...

So I was challenged to start this page as a beginning of a conversation. I'd love to hear more from you.