Hello!
About Me
A warm welcome to you. Thanks for taking a moment to stop by to learn a bit about me. Let me share a bit about the path that has led me to create this space.
(Just here for the credentials? Feel free to scroll down to "The Credentials" section—I won't be offended!)About my past experience
Throughout my life, I've been on a continuous journey of learning and growth, gathering insights and experiences along the way. A significant portion of my time has been dedicated to teaching, and now I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned and am learning with others. This space is not just about me imparting knowledge, but about building a community where we can learn, reflect, and grow together.
I'm an educator by profession, an aspiring entrepreneur, and a writer by ambition. My primary career was in nursing, spanning over 40 years where I served in various clinical and leadership roles. Along the way, I armed myself with a BA in Psychology and a Master's degree in Leadership with specialization in servant leadership.
I've walked in and alongside the Christian community my entire adult life, witnessing firsthand how our most meaningful conversations can also be our most challenging. This journey has taught me the profound value of transformative communication practices that consistently lead to more fruitful outcomes.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner
My life experiences have sparked a deep curiosity in me, leading me to a place where my passion for reading, studying, and learning finds purpose. Through this blog, I aim to share things I'm learning and reflecting on and create a space where we can learn together." As Frederick Buechner wisely noted,
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
I've found that intersection in creating opportunities for honest conversation and thoughtful reflection on faith and life.
I find myself constantly collecting insights and perspectives, eager to explore them further and share them with others. Every book, every sermon, podcast, article, and every conversation has the seeds of so many more thoughts I'm eager to explore.
In the words of John Steinbeck:
"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." --John Steinbeck
Managing this abundance of ideas has been its own journey - one that's taught me important lessons about creativity and courage.
"I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged." --Erica Jong
The intricate dance between getting it right and gathering courage to put myself out there is real. It feels like a walk out on a cliff. It takes grit—a quality I deeply value.
I'm aiming for clarity, courage and congruence in my writing, and to do that I find I need to be gritty.
“To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be gritty is to invest day after week after year, in challenging practice. To be gritty is to fall down seven times and rise eight".--Angela Duckworth.
At some point, though, it means just getting it out there. So I'll heed the wisdom of the writer William Faulkner:
"Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good." --William Faulkner
Nice to meet you!
The Credentials (The Professional Version)
My professional background includes:
This foundation has equipped me with insights into human connection during times of vulnerability and tension. My approach combines life experiences with biblically-informed perspectives that help us remain Christ-centered and compassionate, even when conversations become challenging.
I'm grateful you've stopped by. Whether you're here to explore ideas, join discussions, or simply observe for a while, you're welcome in this space. I hope what you find here challenges, encourages, and perhaps occasionally disrupts your thinking in the best possible ways.
People often tell me I make them think. That's sort of why I'm here...in a nutshell.
The journey is richer when we walk it together. If something resonates with you, or if you have thoughts to share, I'd love to hear from you. The conversation continues...
Gerda