As a person who has made three serious suicide attempts in the past, I feel understood and supported by your words in a way that I never did by clergy in the past who just told me I’d “sinned.” Thank you.
Hi everyone. I was a pastor for more than four decades. The last two settings were unusually toxic. I hung in there too long, had a complete breakdown while pastoring in December 2020, and had to retire immediately. My wife and I are not able to do church in person, and I still get hard-triggered when people I used to pastor reach out to me wanting that kind of help. Nadia - this article is very meaningful to Carla and me. Her mom committed suicide when Carla was still a girl, and Carla found her. I plan on participating in The Corners. Thank you all.
I’m such a fan of how you weave your thoughts into profound and simple messages of grace for all those who are in need of hearing them. I appreciate how you are able to connect to the parts of myself that I don’t often want to look at…this is an especially tender subject that needs the love you brought to it in this sermon. Thank you
I’m a survivor of a bunch of stuff too. So I’m really excited about the way you put yourself out there Nadia, as well as your message.
So I subscribed to the Corners. I was mostly here for the podcast. Then I realized that that isn’t really a thing you do anymore. And I also noticed that you seem to have left or stepped down from the Church you founded. And there was another online community that you referred to early on that no longer seems to exist.
So it doesn’t matter how enthusiastic I am about your message, or how much I’d like to join a community aligned with your message, if that community doesn’t in fact exist. It’s not good for my abandonment issues for starters. So I canceled my subscription.
I want to be clear that this is not criticism, rather it is feedback in the spirit of fellowship and inquiry. I arrived at your work through the cult-recovery space. Prior to that and throughout I belong to a 12 Step fellowship focused on recovery from dysfunctional family-of-origin trauma. My own recovery feels unique for including a response to explicitly cult-adjacent trauma. There aren’t that many communities available for cultic-specific trauma, although there are some: the best clearing house for resources I’ve found is on the website for the A Little Bit Culty podcast, at alittlebitculty.com, and specifically igotout.org
I just want to say to you, Nadia, that it makes sense to me that you would be stepping back from the danger of cultivating a cult of personality, as much as you step forward in the spirit of ministry. It seems like a difficult balance to maintain, modeling vulnerability by sharing your own story, your own experience, strength & hope, but also creating a space where everyone else feels safe to do the same. I know you realize that it’s not about you so much as it’s about all of us, including you, NOT least of all. Is it me or my Higher Power saying ‘you are loved.’? And are we saying it to you or to me? Can it be both?
That’s the question. Or maybe it’s how do we create a non-hierarchical organization that is self-sustaining? Is it the Corners?
Since I’m no longer a member, I don’t know if I’ll see a public response. I’ll come back and look for one, or you can reach out to me another way.
Thank you for your service, Nadia. I’m Justin, or adjustin’, or a/v8d
My 31 year old daughter suffers from mental illness and has had suicidal tendencies, off and on, since she was 14. You're right to say it's complicated. It's devastating that she has even considered suicide, but I'm thankful she has not actually attempted it, or worse, succeeded at it. Thank you for writing/speaking about this issue. It gives me hope that she will realize she is loved and wanted and still has so much to live for.
Hey friends, I need help, I have noticed I have been on a short fuse lately, the smallest things irritate me, I seem to be getting short and frustrated with others, and quiet frankly I hate what I see and here out of my mouth. I cry out, it seems no answer comes, I say I hold fast to Habakkuk 3:17-19, yet my grip seems to slip daily, so I ask you guys and gals to simply intercede for me, to pray for me that Father will turn this storm I am in around. I will say normally, if there is a normal anymore, I am very easy going and it takes a lot to set me off. Please help me! Thanks so very much.
As a person who has made three serious suicide attempts in the past, I feel understood and supported by your words in a way that I never did by clergy in the past who just told me I’d “sinned.” Thank you.
Thank you. I'm glad you are still here, Sophie.
These days, I am glad I’m still here too. ❤️
I am glad you're still here too.
You’re a reason I want to stay, best buddy!
Hi everyone. I was a pastor for more than four decades. The last two settings were unusually toxic. I hung in there too long, had a complete breakdown while pastoring in December 2020, and had to retire immediately. My wife and I are not able to do church in person, and I still get hard-triggered when people I used to pastor reach out to me wanting that kind of help. Nadia - this article is very meaningful to Carla and me. Her mom committed suicide when Carla was still a girl, and Carla found her. I plan on participating in The Corners. Thank you all.
I’m such a fan of how you weave your thoughts into profound and simple messages of grace for all those who are in need of hearing them. I appreciate how you are able to connect to the parts of myself that I don’t often want to look at…this is an especially tender subject that needs the love you brought to it in this sermon. Thank you
The most beautiful and meaningful sermon I've ever heard. Thank you, Nadia. It's very moving.
Nadia, I simply have no words, thank you seems so very small.
Beautifully and truly expressed. We ALL are so deeply loved!❤️
This is so beautiful; I have listened to it twice in a row and will listen more.
Thank you so much. Namaste xxx
Your words speak to my heart and soul. Exactly what I needed to hear at this moment. Thank you.
we are all still here
each of us is here for someone who needs to hear this
but when I hear these words myself
the accuser asks Why
We listened to this sermon at Montview this morning. Such a powerful message. Thank you for this❤️
Hi Nadia, All,
I’m a survivor of a bunch of stuff too. So I’m really excited about the way you put yourself out there Nadia, as well as your message.
So I subscribed to the Corners. I was mostly here for the podcast. Then I realized that that isn’t really a thing you do anymore. And I also noticed that you seem to have left or stepped down from the Church you founded. And there was another online community that you referred to early on that no longer seems to exist.
So it doesn’t matter how enthusiastic I am about your message, or how much I’d like to join a community aligned with your message, if that community doesn’t in fact exist. It’s not good for my abandonment issues for starters. So I canceled my subscription.
I want to be clear that this is not criticism, rather it is feedback in the spirit of fellowship and inquiry. I arrived at your work through the cult-recovery space. Prior to that and throughout I belong to a 12 Step fellowship focused on recovery from dysfunctional family-of-origin trauma. My own recovery feels unique for including a response to explicitly cult-adjacent trauma. There aren’t that many communities available for cultic-specific trauma, although there are some: the best clearing house for resources I’ve found is on the website for the A Little Bit Culty podcast, at alittlebitculty.com, and specifically igotout.org
I just want to say to you, Nadia, that it makes sense to me that you would be stepping back from the danger of cultivating a cult of personality, as much as you step forward in the spirit of ministry. It seems like a difficult balance to maintain, modeling vulnerability by sharing your own story, your own experience, strength & hope, but also creating a space where everyone else feels safe to do the same. I know you realize that it’s not about you so much as it’s about all of us, including you, NOT least of all. Is it me or my Higher Power saying ‘you are loved.’? And are we saying it to you or to me? Can it be both?
That’s the question. Or maybe it’s how do we create a non-hierarchical organization that is self-sustaining? Is it the Corners?
Since I’m no longer a member, I don’t know if I’ll see a public response. I’ll come back and look for one, or you can reach out to me another way.
Thank you for your service, Nadia. I’m Justin, or adjustin’, or a/v8d
My 31 year old daughter suffers from mental illness and has had suicidal tendencies, off and on, since she was 14. You're right to say it's complicated. It's devastating that she has even considered suicide, but I'm thankful she has not actually attempted it, or worse, succeeded at it. Thank you for writing/speaking about this issue. It gives me hope that she will realize she is loved and wanted and still has so much to live for.
Amazing message.
Hey friends, I need help, I have noticed I have been on a short fuse lately, the smallest things irritate me, I seem to be getting short and frustrated with others, and quiet frankly I hate what I see and here out of my mouth. I cry out, it seems no answer comes, I say I hold fast to Habakkuk 3:17-19, yet my grip seems to slip daily, so I ask you guys and gals to simply intercede for me, to pray for me that Father will turn this storm I am in around. I will say normally, if there is a normal anymore, I am very easy going and it takes a lot to set me off. Please help me! Thanks so very much.
Just extraordinary words Nadia. I watched/listened with tears and goosebumps. Immensely powerful. Thank you.
I need to hear this, more than I realized. Thank you for the reminder of the beautiful and precious unknown moments ahead.