Kathy Escobar > Quotes

“In its essence, the transitional stage of Shifting is when we wonder if maybe there is much more to the spiritual life than we've ever been taught, if the wild ways of Jesus are even really possible, or if we could possibly find life outside of going to church. We start dreaming of a place or way we could use our creativity and gifts without being controlled by the church or someone else's leadership. We long to engage in more meaningful relationships instead of superficial ones. We want to spend time hanging out with our neighbors instead of only church people (and without any kind of evangelism agenda). While desires look different for each of us, Shifting is about no longer feeling comfortable in our spiritual skin.”
― Kathy Escobar

“The art of loving each other well is letting people be where they are and not trying to convince them to be where I am.”
― Kathy Escobar, Faith Shift: Finding Your Way Forward When Everything You Believe Is Coming Apart

“In times of deep division, great change, and never-ending brokenness, we need brave people of practice to help us keep moving forward.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Heroic acts aren’t just about running into a burning building to save someone. It’s also rising up and saying, “No, I will not let my brothers and sisters be treated this way or the community that I live in harm the vulnerable.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“New life, hope, and change aren’t going to magically drop on our doorstep because we wish for it, long for it, pray for it, share memes on Facebook about it.”
― Kathy Escobar

“A core principle in our Refuge group is that we all can be an advocate and we all need an advocate. They are not mutually exclusive.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Part of the practice of celebrating is pausing and owning our own healing, movement, change, and positive shifts in our lives. It starts with us. It helps to look at where we’ve been, where we are now, what we’ve overcome, what we’ve survived, what we’ve learned, how we’ve changed.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“I think if Jesus was here teaching in the flesh again, he’d be turning over tables, clearing out churches, and raising some serious ruckus over how we are not only missing the point but are continuing to damage far too many people in the name of God.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“A core piece of the practice of failing is embracing our humanity. Owning it, leaning into it, wearing it, and remembering we are in good company with a whole bunch of other humans who are also struggling with feelings of failure.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“When the world is falling apart, it’s even more important that we find a way to last. The planet and its people need us to be healthy and grounded, not gasping for breath.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Many of us were also taught that Jesus saves us from our pain and we’re supposed to be “above it” instead of remembering Jesus entered pain directly—his own and the world’s—to transform it.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Without healthy avenues to process loss, people fragment their experiences, neglect their real stories, numb out, and try to cope on their own, which often results in anger, depression, and anxiety.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Our invitation to community, which we read at the beginning of our gatherings, includes this important line: “At The Refuge, everyone gives, everyone receives.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Whether you consider yourself a follower of Jesus or not, a life of changing ourselves to change the world is going to be a bumpy, windy, weird road.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“I believe in every part of my soul that one of the most world-changing practices of love is to help create corrective experiences for people—to have them experience, in the flesh, something different than the damage they received in their family, life, or church.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“We can often become so focused on tangible care, connection, or advocacy with others that we neglect our own souls.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World

“Faith is not knowledge. It’s not static. It’s not a “thing” we can grasp. Rather, it’s an act, occurrence, mode of being. It’s a mix of actions that reflect God in us and through us. It’s a myriad of -ing words that are active, tangible, and always in motion. Faith is a verb. It’s meant to be practiced.”
― Kathy Escobar, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World