"We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! "

Ephesians 2:10 TPT

On this second Birthday of Embracing Shalom, I began reflecting again on my "why".

I recently sat down for coffee with a friend, and she asked, "How did you come to this work?"

My grandmother ("Nanny") was the Director of Nursing at the American Red Cross in Chattanooga. She was inspired by Florence Nightingale (a British nurse, statistician, social reformer, and foundational philosopher of modern nursing) and Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross).

When I would spend the night at Nanny's house, she would tell me stories about Clara. She was known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" after she came to the aid of the overwhelmed surgeon during the Civil War. Not only did she attend to the soldiers' medical needs, but she also tended to their hearts, providing them with emotional support. She would read to them, write letters to their families on their behalf, and simply spend time talking with them.

I've always been drawn to this.

Clara embraced courage and kindness. This angel of the battlefield would "fly out" amid war and chaos to bring physical, emotional, and mental aid to Union, Confederate, and African American soldiers. A devout Christian, she trusted in God's providence, and whoever the Lord placed in her path received His grace through this compassionately courageous woman.

This resonates with me.

I'm not the healer, but I can facilitate connection to the One who can heal. I may not be a nurse, but I have walked my own journey through Christ-centered yoga and mindfulness and know the Lord has met me in these practices, healing my nervous system, trauma, and even my emotions. I have received empathy and experienced healing prayer in spiritual direction, allowing me to receive Abba's love, tender care, and profound healing for my whole being.

Having been so blessed in this way, like Clara, I feel the desire to "fly out" amid the war and chaos of daily life and past traumas, and walk alongside those in need of the Great Physician...which is all of us!

And then...

I read the scripture at the top:

"We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! " Ephesians 2:10 TPT

"In advance"..."destiny"... was this just my why, or has my why aligned with God's in advance, planned destiny?

What I haven't told you is that my Nanny grew up in trauma and lots of it. What I found fascinating is that she chose nursing. A field of healing and tender care. She was not without her scars and did not live in perfection, but she had a deep-seated call to care for others within her.

Alzheimer's eventually took its course on her, but the last coherent thing she said to me, with tears in her eyes and a look of amazement on her face, was, "Can you believe how much Jesus loves us?"

Just before I began my Christ-centered yoga journey, the Lord kept bringing butterflies to mind. I kept feeling this call to new life. The weekend before I flew out to my first yoga training retreat, my mom and husband were going through some old family treasures (my husband likes looking through old things, and my mom likes telling the stories). They came across one piece of jewelry belonging to Nanny that caught my husband's eye. Knowing that the Lord had been putting butterflies on my heart, he said, "Tracy needs to see this."

It's not expensive, and it's missing an inlay, but what an incredible discovery!

From trauma to hope! From death to new life!

In the words of Nanny: Can you believe how much Jesus loves us?

I'm overwhelmed by the knowledge that Abba's in advance destiny for me was not something separate from his love, "for we are joined to Jesus." This destiny is not something I'm doing for Him, but with Him, in Him, brought to life in the poetry from His own lips...I'm His poetry. Nanny's prayers and service are not lost to trauma and despair...they are given new life in the next generation through the grace and goodness of God! Her call was nursing, mine is holding space for others to process and embrace shalom while leaning into His unforced rhythms of grace.

So, take a few breaths with me.

How is Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit, speaking to you? You, dear %FIRSTNAME%, you are his poetry, a re-created %FIRSTNAME%, that will fulfill the destiny he has given you, for you are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before you were born, God planned in advance your destiny and the good works you would do to fulfill it!

May you reawaken to the wonder of: Can you believe how much Jesus loves us?

May you believe that you are the Lord's poetry.

May you live into the joy of being re-created, joined in Jesus, trusting in Providence to complete His in advance destiny in you.