Writing from the past

Reflections from my doctoral work, about work.

I was prepping for classes when I opened my OneNote app. It was interesting that my DBA file opened. I have not been in that file for years now. However, we will take it as a message and trust the breadcrumbs and process.

In particular, the tab that was showcased on the screen was from my course in Faith and Spirituality. George Fox University is a Christian university. When I pursued the degree, it wasn’t for the faith; it was for the concentration in marketing. However, reflecting on it may have been one of the pieces to helping me re-soften to the idea of something bigger.

I remember the professor. He was a great facilitator of discussion, thinking, and perspective. Through some of his words, you can find this piece of him:

• This paper gives you an opportunity to reflect on your personal faith formation and how your faith (or spirituality) intersects with your work. This is not a "general theology" about work. It is a paper about your faith (or spirituality) and work. I include the term spirituality in parentheses because if you do not consider yourself a "person of faith," perhaps it is easier for you to consider how your work intersects with your "spiritual side" (however you define that). You do not have to write your paper from a perspective that you think is agreeable to the class or to me. DBA students come from a variety of Christian denominations as well as other faiths and even non-faith backgrounds. My goal is to find common ground for all perspectives on faith and spirituality that we bring to this group.

Reflecting now, the gift of his class was the beginning of a personal process for me to start wrapping words around spirituality. It was an experience that made me think in ways that had become difficult. It may have been one of my calls towards the pursuit of finding a common language of human potential.

It is interesting to read my reflections from this time in my life. God was not a part of my common vocabulary, and spirituality was almost non-existent. As I read these pieces, I can see the threads. The threads that have always been there and the ones that are continuing to weave together the tapestry of what my life is, will be, and was.

What a gift it is to have my reflections wrapped in words. The ability to study my writing and interpret the meaning and understanding of my journey has me sitting with some gratitude.