In the summer of 2022, I found out I was not God. It might sound like a silly conclusion to come to, or a good one if I’m an otherwise self-absorbed, prideful narcissist. Whatever I may be, it was a turning point for me.
As a self-described “liberal nonprofit worker in recovery,” my 16 years working in nonprofits have taught me a lot about myself and my own boundaries and needs. After a major rupture in 2021 at a nonprofit I worked for, I stepped up when the organization needed me. After that, however, a voice within me became louder, asking what my true purpose is in life and whether working in this sector is serving others, yes, but also myself.
All of this culminated in my journey on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, led by my Spiritual Director, Becky Eldredge of Ignatian Ministries, which came to a close in June 2022. My Share the Wealth is the story of where I was before the Exercises, how I came to realize I was not God, and what that has meant for me in my life, and especially my work, afterward.
If you are a tireless advocate who is tired, a nonprofit worker whose personal “profit” reserves are wearing thin, or simply someone with a voice inside that nags at you and makes you wonder, I hope that my Share the Wealth can be a stepping stone on your journey.
In addition to her soul searching, Christina is a birth doula (for 12 years and counting) as well as a childbirth educator. She graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor in Psychology and Theology in 2007 and in 2014 with a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University. As for her work today, you’ll have to tune in and find out. Christina has an interest in being a reflective writer (inspired much by Dr. Chmiel) that explores the intersection of faith (Catholicism), self, motherhood, and parenthood with a social justice twist (inspired by former SLU professor, Dr. Julie Rubio). She currently lives in Durham, NC, with her husband, a family physician raised in Hinduism, and their too-cute-for-her-own-good-and-darn-does-she-know-it tabby cat, Stella…who gets whatever she wants.
Join us Sunday 27 August
7:00 pm Central Time
By Zoom: Email me for URL
markjchmiel@gmail.com
