Hard To Go Home

Every now and again, you can find a great quote from a college text book that wasn't/isn't attributed to some other great think, theologian, philosopher or writer. Check this out:

"Increasing self-awareness, which includes awareness of alternatives, motivations, factors influencing the person, and personal goals, is an aim of all counseling. It is the therapist's task to indicate to the client that a price must be paid for increased awareness. As we become more aware, it is more difficult to 'go home again.'" Ignorance of our condition may have brought contentment along with a feeling of partial deadness, but as we open the doors in our world, we can expect more turmoil as well as the potential for more fulfillment."

This stuff doesn't just apply to counselors. This is huge for anybody in the world of helping other people wrestle with deeper stuff. Youth workers, pastors, educators, small group leaders, and, in general, anyone committed to seeing people grow in some aspect of life can be impacted by that.

It's also a great piece for personal reflection as we think about the junk, stuff, baggage, shit, garbage, sin, and issues we have to wade through, struggle about and wrestle with as we come to understand who we are, what our purpose is, where we belong, and who/what might attempt to derail our process to becoming healthy, whole, and holy.

It is truly hard to go home once we come to grips with reality of who we are and the truth of the world in which we live. I know I don't want to go back, but also understand the ease doing "what I know" or living from the past. Fear is also an issue as we think what will those around me think of me and how will they react to a "new" me.