This engaging dialogue with author, speaker, and podcaster Sarah E. Westfall explores the beauty of belonging, loss, and faith.
Sarah reflects on her journey in community development, her experiences as a mother when she lost her son, Carter, how God drew near her, and the biblical story of Hagar and the concept of 'El Roy'—the God who sees. The conversation explores the emotional complexities of seeking internal and external belonging, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on personal needs, practicing patience, and building genuine connections. Practical strategies like the 'circles of belonging' exercise are discussed for fostering authentic and reciprocal relationships while highlighting the balance between transparency and gradual trust-building. The session underscores the power of reciprocal generosity, creativity in everyday life, and intentional spiritual practices for cultivating love and connection. The discussion concludes with insights into Sarah's book 'The Way of Belonging,' her 'Liturgy of the Little Things challenge on Instagram, and heartfelt prayer, inviting the audience to embrace a life of deeper spiritual awareness and connection.
Sarah’s publisher, IVY PRESS is kindly offering me a book to giveaway to one of our listeners. Please sign up: The Way of Belonging Book Giveway.
Also, you can join Sarah for her ‘Liturgy of the Little Things’ challenge at Instagram: sarah_westfall.
That is one of the hardest things for me is to receive God's goodness, to say and to, to let myself actually taste it of His goodness.
Sarah E. Westfall
I began to experience the nearness of God amidst my darkest days and began to speak to God in very uncensored, unfiltered, raw rawest of raw kind of ways.
Sarah E. Westfall
Something shifts in us when we aren't just out to receive, but we are also willing to give, to give without expectation and simply allow ourselves to become containers of the love that we have been given and who get to just pour it out wherever we go.
Sarah E. Westfall
Episode 21: The Beauty of Belonging: A Conversation with Sarah E. Westfall
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Introduction music Everlasting Covenant by Don Rutherford.
00:00 Introduction to Beholder Beauty
00:15 Meet Sarah E. Westfall
00:33 Sarah's Professional and Personal Life
02:12 Beauty Tips and Personal Preferences
04:13 Struggles with Beauty and Self-Acceptance
08:27 The God Who Sees: Finding Belonging
13:08 The Journey of Belonging
22:10 The Parable of the Prodigal Son
25:15 A Mother's Grief and Faith
32:15 Defining Belonging: A Heartfelt Conversation
32:53 The Four Values of Home
36:29 Navigating Authenticity and Transparency
42:56 Circles of Belonging: An Exercise
50:43 Embracing Creativity in Everyday Life
57:24 Cultivating Relationships and Belonging
58:19 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Meet our Author, Sarah E. Westfall
Sarah E. Westfall is a writer, speaker, and host of the Human Together podcast. Her previous work includes serving as director of community for online writing groups and as a student development professional on college campuses. She has been published in RELEVANT, Fathom Mag, and (in)courage. Sarah lives in Indiana with her husband, Ben, and four sons.
Visit her website at sarahewestfall.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @sarah_westfall and Instagram: sarah_westfall
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The Beauty of Belonging: A conversation with Sarah E. Westfall