As a young child, I vividly remember sitting in a wooden chair on our front porch in Portland, Oregon in a yellow rain slicker and boots. The rain fell steadily from a dark gray sky onto the trellissed roses and soaked the grass. All of my senses engaged in a sacred experience of something mystical and loving that was calling my spirit.

Even more vividly, I remember a week-long race immersion experience where, for the first time in my life, I heard the question “What does it mean to be white?” I didn’t know how to answer it. I was beginning my doctoral program. I had years of “stellar” educational experiences. I had been socialized in a system that wanted me to think race was about other people and had nothing to do with me. My world went spinning.

As I wrestled with my identity, impact, and years of white segregation, it was more than an intellectual journey. My spirituality gave me courage and the commitment to be confused, angry, remorseful and to actively show up in the world more racially conscious and able to interrupt and dismantle racism.

Integrating justice and spirituality deepens our capacity for change, as individuals, communities and organizations. I welcome you wherever you are on your lifelong journey of becoming.