From the lips of a hypocrite…

A friend of mine once told me From the Lips of a Hypocrite sounded like a really good book title. Since then I’ve debated if it would be a title I would actually use on a book I’m trying to sell. I get hung up on the fact that I personally would never buy a book that the author is claiming on the cover that they are a hypocrite. My personality leans away from spending time reading something by someone who admits up front they don’t have the subject of their book figured out. But then there’s a part of me that feels relieved—that says, “Oh, good, she doesn’t have it all together either.” Inherent in that thought is also a physical sigh of relief, which I’m beginning to understand is healing.

So I’m in. It’s the title of this post and maybe more to come!

I don’t know which category you fall into, but my desire is that you hear the invitation to community in that title. I really don’t have it all together either. My writings are not intended to impress you with my knowledge; instead, I hope my words summarizing my victories and failures put tools in your hands that help you get as close as possible to living your best life.

You are invited to this community. Take my hand, and we’ll go to the front lines of life and fight together for our best lives. Like an armor bearer from medieval times, I will both equip you and not leave your side.

So why do I call myself a hypocrite? Because this is a place I’m going to share with you my journey—and right now, that journey is writing a book about, of all things, surrender. And while I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons the hard way, I still find myself grabbing the steering wheel of life and trying to control outcomes on a regular basis. Admittedly, I haven’t mastered surrender, yet I know that a surrendered life is the best way to live. I also know that if I wait until I have surrender mastered, then the book will never get finished, and this website will not exist. So, this is where we begin—right in the messy middle.

I will use this space to share what I’m learning; and I hope that some of it will encourage you but, most importantly, remind you that you’re not alone. I will at times fail in life; and I’ll check in here and admit it to you. I will say something wrong. I will prove myself a hypocrite. But I promise you this—I won’t stop getting back up and moving forward. I will choose healing and kindness over shame and regret because that’s what I most desire in a community—a group of people to do life with who will keep moving forward no matter how hard the journey gets.

So, this is my promise to you: If you choose to join me on this journey and find me failing, I promise to not let failure run me over and force me to give up. I’ll keep learning. And I’ll keep confessing to you—right here. And we’ll learn together while watching each other’s backs.

Let’s begin. 💛