Have you ever felt stuck in a box of your own making? That nagging sensation that you're trapped in a role, a mindset, or a pattern that no longer serves you?

I want to take you on a journey through the concept of breaking free from self-imposed limitations and reframing our past experiences. Drawing from my book "Tilted Halo: Exposing the Truth of Women in Ministry and Untold Stories," I share a powerful personal story about transforming a painful wedding memory through the simple act of perspective shift. I recount how a reinterpretation of my father's wedding toast demonstrates how we can be "freed from" negative thought patterns that have constrained us for years.

The heart of this episode centers around the twin concepts of being "free from" and "free for." Through an engaging analogy about training a formerly wild dog, I illuminate how what initially feels like constraint can actually become the very thing that enables greater freedom and purpose. This isn't just philosophical musing—it's practical wisdom for anyone feeling boxed in by circumstances or their thinking. Whether you're a woman in ministry leadership or anyone seeking more authentic living, this episode offers a framework for identifying what you want liberation from and, more importantly, what mission or purpose you want liberation for.

Ready to break out of your box? Listen now, then reach out for additional resources to help you identify what you want to be freed from and freed for in your own life and ministry. Connect with me on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about living with your halo proudly tilted—perfectly imperfect in your calling.

What happens when you're called to blaze a trail with no map to follow? For women in ministry leadership, this isn't just a theoretical question—it's the daily reality of navigating spaces traditionally dominated by men.

I launch this episode of the "Tilted Halo" podcast with a powerful reflection on finding your place when there's no clear roadmap. Drawing from my experience as the only female pastor within a 60-mile radius of her first rural parish, I share the vulnerable story of receiving directions to "turn where the Peterson barn used to be"—a perfect metaphor for the challenges women face when following non-existent guides.

The journey unfolds with raw honesty as I recount conducting my very first funeral service for a stranger, quickly followed by 13 more funerals in just 14 weeks. This baptism by fire reveals how women in pioneering positions often learn through immediate immersion, without the benefit of seeing others who look like them in similar roles.

Though lacking in female predecessors, I reveal the unexpected sources of guidance that sustained me: scripture, supportive community members, fellow faith leaders across traditions, and most importantly, divine grace. My message resonates beyond ministry contexts to any woman creating new pathways in uncharted territory.

Whether your halo feels perfectly balanced or perpetually tilted, this podcast offers companionship and wisdom for the journey ahead. As I'd like to remind you, with gentle assurance, "You do not walk this way alone. God is there, walking the road with you, and so are some of us who've been there before."

Ready to find your way without a roadmap? Subscribe to the Tilted Halo podcast and join a community of women discovering their path in ministry and beyond.

What does it truly mean to be authentic in ministry? This profound question forms the heart of my conversation with award-winning life purpose coach Edna White, who brings wisdom born from both personal trauma and professional expertise.

Edna begins by taking us back to our five-year-old selves—that magical time when we believed anything was possible, when we innately trusted ourselves and the world around us. This, she explains, is our natural state of authenticity before life's expectations began reshaping us. Her definition resonates powerfully, especially for those of us navigating leadership roles while trying to maintain our genuine selves.

The conversation deepens as Edna courageously shares her journey through childhood sexual abuse and how it disconnected her from her true identity for decades. Despite outward achievements—modeling, marriage, motherhood—she describes living as if trapped "in a black bag," going through motions prescribed by others rather than living from her authentic core. Her story mirrors what many women in ministry experience: following paths laid out by institutions, mentors, or cultural expectations rather than the unique calling God has placed within them.

Most transformative is Edna's account of how a devastating accident became her pathway to genuine spiritual awakening. While relearning to walk after breaking her entire right side, she discovered a relationship with God more authentic than anything she'd experienced in 29 years of religious observance. This breakthrough illuminates the paradoxical truth that sometimes our greatest authenticity emerges precisely when our carefully constructed identities are broken open.

Ready to discover your authentic calling beneath the layers of "shoulds" and expectations? Listen now, and join our community of imperfectly perfect women of faith who are embracing their tilted halos while making a genuine difference in the world.