Share Experiences: Anxiety Symptoms Ignite a Spiritual Growth Plan
I was a Resident Director on my college campus. It was ironic that I became the Resident Director. Two hundred freshman students lived in the dorm with me. I was supposed to bring them stability, safety and predictability. It was amazing that I managed to do my job so well. I was so messed up: my life loitered with anxiety symptoms. It was a miracle that my life was any good for anyone.
Eventually I learned that I wasn't as troubled as I thought I was. In high school everyone acted like they were perfect. Few people let their troubles be seen. At Pratt people were honest about their lives and they were not afraid to share. People knew all about my troubles but they still came to me with theirs. We shared life honestly. Sometimes, I found that I was the one who was holding things together. This happened even on the days when I felt like I was falling apart.
Being the Resident Director changed my life. I learned that I didn't have to be perfect to matter. I learned that I could be troubled, sick and hurting and still make a difference in the world. I discovered that God would still use me even though I was broken.
Spiritual journeys are influenced by many factors. What experiences changed your life and became a source of spiritual development? What experiences changed and shaped your self perception? How has God used you through these experiences, and how have they become a part of your spiritual growth plan? Where do these influences fit within your spiritual autobiography?