Women experience collective trauma when they live and operate in systems–parenting, corporate, legal–that were not built by them. There is a journey each woman must take through frustration and pain to forgiveness, healing, agency and re-capturing creativity. Much of the latter part of the journey takes place in a community of witness and recognition, and there is usually no better person to walk them through this journey than someone who has walked it themselves. I have been waiting a long time to pursue this dream of supporting women in the darker parts of their experiences; this is the foundation of Her Life Ally.
Personally, I’m learning that a dream is an invitation into an adventure with God. More than the work that happens above the surface is what happens in relationship with the Creator, the original Dreamer, who cares not about us being useful but about us as beloved children in relationship with Him. In this adventure, I have realized my deep desire to know His heart for me and to feel supported by Him, even as we support the many women walking through our doors for help.
What surprises me most is the vulnerability of actually pursuing a dream.
What surprises me most is the vulnerability of actually pursuing a dream. Being hidden under someone else’s agenda can feel safer. Putting an idea, time, money and heart into a dream out in the open brings about a sense of authenticity, but also a sense of vulnerability, particularly when it is the power of our testimony fuelling our mission.
This brings me to the surprising joy and challenges of being on this adventure. What delights me is how much I enjoy the daily work. At any given hour, I might be equipping and training our allies, developing resources for journeyers and allies, working directly with a woman who is in a vulnerable situation and needs practical navigation, or talking to a long list of lawyers and accountants who have volunteered their precious time to help us.
While I deeply enjoy the work, the challenge is the existential anxiety of wondering where we might be in three months. Will we have served women in the way we intended? Did our volunteer allies find this to be a meaningful experience they want to repeat? Will we have the resources to support this program at subsidized rates for women in crisis?
When I look back over the past six months of being in the Dream Forum, I realize how far we’ve come as a team, and how far I’ve come personally. Pursuing a dream definitely requires us to trust the unfolding process that has already been written by the One who has gone before us.
K.T. is one of twelve Dream Pod Members in Goldenwood’s 2023 Dream Forum. This reflection is part of Goldenwood’s #InsidetheDreamPod series.
About K.T.’s dream, Her Life Ally: Our dream is to help women overcome traumas and major transitions which knock them out of living in full purpose and flourishing. We dream of creating (i) a new paradigm for allying women that takes into account trauma and healing and (ii) technology to help them unlock community resources and hyper-local expertise.