Q :: Alicia, you’ve been intentionally mentoring others for 30 years. Does your journey from Atheism to faith affect how you invest in others?
Alicia :: Yes–deeply. As a young woman, questioning was viewed as an issue of art, not an issue of respect. Dad’s eyes would light up when I asked Why? or when I genuinely disagreed with his view on a subject. Why? strengthened, not threatened, our love.
As an Atheist, Why? was close to holy. Without freedom to ask Why? there could be no trust, let alone love. The only requirement was honesty. Without honesty, Why? is just another means of deflection or debate. With honesty, Why? opens the way to growth.
So my journey as an Atheist grew within me a deep valuing of questions, questioning, and being questioned–all of which have shaped me as a mentor.
Now as a spiritual mentor of leaders, questions delight me. Being questioned does not surprise me. And I view heart-felt questioning of God as ancient and transformational. (See Gen 18:23, Ps 13:2, Ps 90:13, Jer 12:1)
Once a beautiful soul shared the following: “Alicia, I’m not sure that I still believe in God. Here I am leading all these people and telling them all these things. And I’m not even sure that God exists!”
I replied, “And? Is that a problem?”
She said, “Well, yes! Isn’t it?”
And I offered, “God is not nervous that you have questions about Him. In fact, your honesty is a saving grace. Doubt is not a sign of faith failure. Sincere doubt is one of faith’s growing pains.”
The same God who did not distance Himself from a doubting, question-filled Atheist, does not distance Himself from a doubting, question-filled Christian. This certainty grants me peace, hope, and grace as a mentor.
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