Home Renovation - Demolition

Living in a different culture has dismantled and reshaped many of my former ways of thinking, viewing, and living. Much like a home renovation, the process of demolition is both necessary and often painful. It requires effort, energy, and intentionality to tear down walls—both physical and metaphorical. Yet, demolition paves the way for greater safety, sustainability, and growth.

One of the most significant shifts I experienced was in my concept of time. I went from always arriving 20 minutes early to settling for just a few minutes ahead—or even right on time. In the early years, I was focused on efficiency, believing that it would make everything run more smoothly. Instead, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated and impatient with those around me.

Over time, my experiences started to dismantle my rigid perception of time and demolish my overbearing need for control—an insecurity I hadn’t fully recognized until living cross-culturally. As I embraced the local mindset, I began to understand that relationships held more value than the task itself. This realization gradually shifted my focus from doing to simply being. I learned to wait without frustration, to let go of impatience, and to appreciate the rhythm of life in a new way.

What do you need to dismantle or demolish to create space for a deeper, more fulfilling way of living? You do not need to do the demolition alone but in community.

Comments

March Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work. Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground. Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...

February Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER Why I do what I do? Loneliness and the lack of support and connection is often the lived experience that ministry workers encounter, and it grieves my heart because this has been my lived experience as well, my story of burnout . My mission? Connect. Nurture. Grow. The TCK Connect Chai Chat is where students talk about specific issues they face. This month students talked about loneliness. It is a part of their lives as they are always on the outside, seen as a foreigner no matter if in the host country or here in the U.S.A. The students describe loneliness as a lack of a peer group, disconnected, and being unknown. Withdrawing even more than usual is their way of coping with loneliness. What helps with their loneliness is joining the TCK Connect calls, talking with friends if they are available and listening to music. It is beautiful to see how God is using TCK Connect in the st...

October Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...

Shannon's Corner

Search This Blog