I've been contemplating starting a blog for well over a year now. As a lover of teaching and learning, the reason I wanted to start a blog was to share some of the things God has taught me in order to encourage others. Also, I have learned that the best way for me to learn more deeply is to teach or interpret for others.
Two things to start with are the verse that this blog is named after and the lotus flower picture. Since becoming a psychologist, I have been drawn to the verse in Philippians as I believe it sums up the purpose of psychology; to focus on things that bring peace and health rather than suffering. The Bible is full of verses telling us not to worry. It doesn't say there won't be pain, but it promises that if we keep our focus on God, we will experience peace. I believe my role as a psychologist is to remind others to "think about such things" while I strive to do the same.
The lotus flower represents my favorite Thich Naht Hanh quote: "It is on the very ground of suffering that we can contemplate well-being. It is exactly in the muddy water that the lotus grows and blooms." Over time, this has become "no mud, no lotus." I believe that God uses us in the mud to grow and bloom for Him. I pray that this blog, though created in muddy water, brings the kind of peace, growth, and beauty that only God can cultivate.