Does Deconstruction Of Your Faith Have to be Sad?

Does deconstruction have to be sad?

In the popular poem "Footprints in the Sand” Jesus says, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you." 

I think he said, “This is where I dragged your ass!”

Carl Jung said, "Walk your path or be dragged." 

Recently someone said he prefers my funny cartoons and that I shouldn’t focus so much on negative things about the church. 

Maybe this cartoon shows I haven't lost my sense of humor. 

When I do cartoon and write about, say, spiritual abuse, I'm helping people embrace their experiences, trust their guts, find their voices, muster their courage, and liberate their lives. 

But I also want to help people find happiness and to know that deconstruction is a positive sign of healthy spiritual growth. They can be happy about it.

Generally I’m a happy person. And I help people laugh or at least smile every day. 

A misconception about people deconstructing is that we’re a bunch of vindictive victims, a wailing wall of woe-is-me, a bathtub of bitterness, a coven of complainers, a world of whiners.

In fact, the people I know who are deconstructing or already have are happy even though they can be serious. 

Sure, we go through periods of sadness. But it's possible to be happy. I dare say even inevitable if we press on.

I’m happy. You can be happy too. 
Even if you experienced abuse.
Even if you’re deconstructing.
Even if you’re leaving the church.

I’m happy.

When we recognize our path, own it, walk it, and master it, we experience a kind of fulfillment that produces the happiness we long for.

“Walk or be Dragged” is available as a print and a digital download.