The wound is the root of our gifts

Getting here has been a 42-year journey marked by both profound love and profound pain. I came to accept that I can hold more than one truth at the same time. I can feel gratitude for my family, who did what they thought they had to do to survive, while also acknowledging the abuse that shaped my early life and the scars it left. Growing up gay in a conservative community taught me to hide parts of myself long before I understood who I was, and that disconnection manifested into crimes against my humanity. In the midst of those losses, I began to recognize what I describe as engagement from the Divine to live a life rooted in truth rather than survival. Despite that revelation, I still had a great deal of unlearning to do, realizing that the ways I thought I was protecting myself were not only hurting me but also those closest to me.

That invitation from the Divine has only become more apparent over time. It led me to complete my first college degree at 38 years old and to work supporting communities that have experienced systemic injustice. In the last six years, I’ve worked in outreach for organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, filmed a docu-series in Uganda advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, worked in maternal and family health equity in Washington, D.C., created a platform for Indigenous people to share their wisdom, and served as Director of Justice and Compassion at The Table, an affirming faith congregation. Along my way, I came upon Esalen Institute, where my experiences there galvanized my understanding of human potential and the healing power of community and land. It inspired me to create experiences where anyone can reconnect with their divinity through consciousness, movement, and reverence for the sacred.

When I look back on my life experiences, I see a single thread woven through them. Long before I had the language for it, my heart was always being drawn toward the justice of restoration. Each chapter has taught me peace, divine discernment, and skills to serve the highest good of humanity. Being accepted into the University of Glasgow's Reparatory Justice program is the evolution of everything that has come before. It is also an opportunity for me to continue answering the call on my life to be of service to the needs of our environment by returning with the competence to help cultivate a healthier, more just, and more sustainable nation.