Speaking Events

Heal Yourself and Solve Any Problem

02/22/20 @ Extraordinary Families Foster Youth

My first ever feel good speaking event. Somehow, it means the most to me. Really cool story behind this. I was homeless at the time I had held this event. I had a pastor I had a relationship with who was a mentor to me at the time. But, our relationship had a falling out. They had told me that they were going to help me get off the streets, and I could come live with them if I agreed not to speak, as in be a speaker and have speaking events. I agreed for a moment, but when they followed it up with the idea that I would go back to college and study while I also learned from them, I declined immediately. I knew exactly where that path led. Dis-ease. I had healed from all of my undying disease of walking a path out of alignment. Now that I was free, that would be the last thing I would be doing.

So, I went on and held my first event, some 21 year old kid who was homeless, and not yet broken. It turned out, that by attending this speaking event, I met someone who believed in God and wanted to share that message with me. At the time, I had a falling out with the church. I had walked away, but I hadn't strayed from my beliefs. This pastor seemingly turned their back on me, and yet I still chose to honor myself and do what I felt was right for me. By following through with such dignity, I had the most disrespectful audience I had ever shared with to this day. Not even the person who invited me was prepared with the materials we agreed on so I could present.

I had followed this guy's request to attend his youth bible study, not knowing where I was going to sleep that night - for my home on a hillside (a sleeping bag folded inside of a tarp) was many cities away by now. I was even in a different county I had never been to before. Knowing that, he asked that I have faith. It was getting late, so I chose to go all in. I strolled through town on foot to find this "church" that was actually a warehouse with completely barred windows in a back alley, and there were no lights. Everything was dark. There was no one to be seen. Not even my friend was around. I called him up, and he felt guilty, still at home, so he gave me a ride to a homeless shelter. Oh my God, I fought demons that night! But, what it did lead to through the relationship I made that day was getting off the streets.

This is the speaking event after that where despite my challenges, I still found a way to share my gifts...To do what I was meant to be doing. Since I never spoke with that pastor again, I believe we were meant to part ways, and it was this intentional separation that was called upon them to do for me. My care was even transitioning hands with someone else who was looking after me, all as God did his work through me. It was a really amazing experience being able to recognize how the pain and rejection and betrayal of such things were just a signal for me to take my beliefs even further. And so, validate your feeling. Follow your calling. Find home within yourself. Walk in faith.