My Beautiful, Unexpected Path to Faith
Faith has a funny way of finding you — sometimes through prayer, sometimes through paintbrushes, always through that deep knowing that something greater is at work.
Recently, I was in the Sunday School room rinsing paintbrushes, watching the colors swirl, smiling ear to ear. Looking up, I giggled, “Now this is my kinda church!” 🎨
Growing up, skipping church wasn’t an option. Even after sleepovers, my parents made sure that come morning, my butt was in that pew — and honestly, a part of me loved it.
Youth group, retreats, mission trips… church was my social circle and my sanctuary. Fun and foundational, it shaped a deep sense of community and compassion that became part of who I am. 🥰
But, as life unfolded, the way I connected to faith shifted:
📖 High school: My Jewish friends expanded how I experienced faith (and how a bowl of matzo ball soup can heal just about anything).
📚 College: My “faith life” was basically living next to a church, not in it. (Except maybe one Easter.)
🩺 Med school: Faith became… well, nonexistent. (Unless you count that one Ash Wednesday with my Catholic friends.)
A few years later, faith showed up again with a divine sense of humor.
💒 Plot twist... I fell head over heels in love with a man who’s all about church!
Yet, while church soothed his soul, for a long while it scratched at mine like an itchy sweater you want to love but somehow just can’t get comfy in. 🫤
✦ How A Simple Self-Care Routine Became My Spiritual Lifeline
Losing pregnancies stretched my faith to its limits. (Including a 3-mile run with God, where the only thought I replayed was, “I hate you for not giving me what I want.”) A doozy, indeed. 🤕
But grief has a way of softening even the sharpest anger.
Over time, sorrow didn’t just break me open — it invited me back to faith, in a more expanded, personal way. 🥹
A slow, spiraling journey home.
When the name Jesus felt too much, I shifted it to JLove. When a teen patient once asked, “Are you a Christian?” I paused, then eventually said, “I believe there are many pathways to God.” 🙏
And when I couldn’t stand sitting in a pew, I followed my heart to the floor — cross-legged on a cushion — once in silent meditation for an hour with strangers. I didn’t go back, but a piece of that peace stayed with me. 🧘🏽♀️
Those moments taught me:
Faith doesn’t live in a building or a label — it lives in the quiet spaces where your soul finally exhales, knowing that something greater is at work. 🕊️
After so much loss, I needed something to hold onto — a way to keep faith close.
So I started small: a few quiet minutes each morning with my journal. Nothing profound. Just whatever spilled out — thoughts, feelings, angry scribbles, and prayers that didn’t sound like prayers.
That tiny act of showing up — every morning — strengthened my connection to faith, worn by loss yet patiently waiting with grace. 😇
Over time, that “morning me-time” has evolved into a simple self-care routine that helps me reconnect with myself, with Source, and with the sacred that lives in the ordinary. (Keep reading for the cozy details.)
Now, as I often share inside the Soulfull Community — ✨ a cozy corner for women who crave real connection 🥰 — my path to faith keeps unfolding in wild and wondrous ways.
It’s less about dogma and more about devotion — exploring spirituality wherever it speaks to my soul, even if it sounds a little woo-woo, like Tarot Numerology. 🌙
There’s a whole universe of divine love out there. How you open up to it, connect with it, and honor it is as unique as you are — no judgment here. 💛
And yes, I still go to church on Sundays to co-lead youth. My butt’s in the pew and my sweater’s finally cozy — I just needed a few more threads woven in. 😌
✦ The Healing Magic of a Simple Self-Care Routine
My morning self-care routine began as a few minutes of messy journaling — me, half-awake, scribbling feelings before the coffee kicked in — and eventually became my soul-soothing anchor. ⚓️✨
Here’s a peek inside — the little rituals that help me trade overwhelm for ease and chaos for calm (most days 😉):
☕️ My go-to coffee replacement — the cozy hug-in-a-mug that tastes amazing (and won’t leave you jittery or judging your life choices by 10 a.m.)
📖 The faith books that ground me — when I forget who I am (and remind me I’m not running this whole universe solo).
🌞 My favorite astrology planner — because “What’s the vibe today?” is way more helpful than “What’s for breakfast?”
🌙 And how I use a sprinkle of Tarot Numerology to set the tone — no deck required, just curiosity and a dash of wonder. 🌞
If you’ve ever wondered how I fill my own cup before pouring into everyone else’s — or you’re craving a slower, softer, more soulful start to your day — this one’s for you. ☕💛
