Transcend and Include

Some time ago, I was introduced to the idea “transcend and include.” (Was it Richard Rohr? I know it was mentioned in Falling Upward somewhere.)

The idea goes we make peace with our old selves as we grow. I tend to take all the old things — quirks, interests, unhealthy beliefs — and pretend they never existed. Sometimes it’s dumb, like my pirated Euro dance mp3 phase. Sometimes it’s deeper, like asking big questions of my faith.

But everything Past Jen are still in there. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been there. I can’t be me without also being her.



(PS: I stuck to the rules of the drabble here, but there's an uncut version up on my blog today. ;))