We all hold within us the capacity for darkness and light, for good and evil. We are beautifully, fearfully & wonderfully made, but we can also do great harm to one another as we navigate our existence and grapple with understanding everything & everyone we encounter in this life. How we engage others and what we believe is right & wrong, is often subject to our own experiences, backgrounds, chosen beliefs & inherited biases. So many things influence all of our thoughts, words, actions, and reactions- our conscious and subconscious motivations, and both our manageable and somewhat unpredictable emotional states. All of this becomes even more interesting, exciting, dangerous, and complex as we include spiritual or religious ideas or mandates to these encounters. These things often alter and define our view of who we are and why we are here. It is no small thing to consider what being made in the image of God really means for any of us, or what genuine compassion truly looks like in our day-to-day encounters. How do we walk in this world honoring and offering truth and light to those who are hurting and desperate? How do we face and deal with the darkness inside each of us that prevents us from being the people we want to be towards each other, despite our best intentions? We will discuss the many nuanced ways that harm is caused in the context of relationships, and explore how science offers much insight into how healing happens in the presence of safety and compassionate connection with others, with ourselves, and with God. This show is for those who are hungry to have honest and hopeful conversations related to physical & mental health, trauma, abuse, sexual wholeness, addiction, spiritual development & growth, creativity, purpose, and many other topics facing us and our culture concerning issues of social justice, relational healing, and human dignity. Join me and my guests for a thoughtful and playful exploration of our sense of Identity, Wholeness and Belonging in this faith-based, science & trauma-informed podcast. Come explore your own faith, feelings, thoughts, theories, and personal experiences, as we create intentional space to consider all of life’s joys & challenges. We will passionately and unapologetically embrace an intentional lens of compassion and curiosity, as we examine what it really means to acknowledge that we are all dangerous and sacred beings.