They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained In living every day.
I've looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose and still somehow,
It's life's illusions I recall. I really don't know life, at all."
--Joni Mitchell
In 1993, I left the LDS Church, as a feminist heretic.
I celebrated that event,
as a rite of passage to larger truths, lessons, and self.
In 2012, I rejoined the LDS Church, as a feminist theologian.
I celebrated that event,
as a rite of passage to deeper truths, lessons, and self.
Both events were crucial to my spiritual journey,
equally necessary, transformative, and positive.
Both sides of life, negative and positive, hold truth,
self knowledge, and wisdom.
Doubt and faith, shadow and light, are equally true, illuminating.
Rejection and acceptance both hold vital life lessons.
It takes all sides of life to see the whole picture
of our journey, relationships, culture and institutions.
Honor your journey, all of it, every step and stage, all sides,
the dark and light, positive and negative, unwanted and desired.
And honor the journey of others.
