What Comfort Am I Seeking?

Exploring Powerful Questions

In this week’s Talking Note I explore the ideas of safety, comfort and their connection to the process of change and spiritual formation. As timing would have it, I am writing from a retreat center tucked away in the rolling hills of North Carolina. I’m here with members of the Seeds Fellowship – a wonderfully eclectic group of caring, thoughtful, and engaged people working on a variety of projects in every facet of life through the lens of the tradition of Christianity. Part of this retreat is to get to know members of the fellowship, now in its third year,  across cohorts.

Within the first hour of conversation the topics turned toward the common challenges many we face in our work. Experiences of financial stress, exhaustion, and burnout were shared. These conversations echoed similar sentiments I’ve heard from people in the not-for-profit world and the arts. Many in the helping fields can experience depletion and stress. We find ourselves always helping others, and rarely paying attention to our own needs (to say little of wants). This imbalance can be challenging if not dangerous. This week’s question aims to balance the scales.

What comfort am I seeking?