Part of Christian growth and maturity is to learn to express our emotions appropriately, how to recognize and articulate the feelings within ourselves, and how to use our feelings as a resource of strengthas a stepping stone instead of a reason to be incapacitated. Emotional urges are important for doing certain tasks and for loving others. But too much emotion leads to a loss of control. Burnout arises when emotions get too intense and lead to meltdown or depression. I hope that this seminar will move us a little bit forward toward the goal of learning to own, recognize, articulate, and name our emotions.
Emotions are a part of the divine imprint on our lives.
It is sinful and life denying to suppress our emotions. Our life and ministry are inhibited when we are out of touch with feelings. Mennonite leaders are in danger because the tradition has often taught us to suppress or deny our emotions. Scriptures portray a full range of emotions. The Psalms with their expressions of despair, bitterness, longing, and anger are less inhibited than we are today.