Rachel Dixon joins us today to share her powerful story of self-discovery, faith, and authenticity. Growing up in a deeply religious environment, Rachel navigated the complexities of identity, conformity, and spirituality, ultimately embracing her true self and advocating for wholeness as a birthright. Imagine being accused by people in the church of being a homosexual because of how you look, being rejected because of it and not even realizing that was your truth until much later, after many years of agonizing introspection! The church knew she was gay before she even did. How is that, if being gay is a choice? This story is powerful and incredibly eye opening. Through candid conversation, we explore the challenges of deconstructing long-held beliefs, the courage to live audaciously, and the importance of community and unconditional love.

Bullet Points of Interest:

• Rachel’s upbringing in a strict Christian environment and the impact of religious expectations on her identity.
• The influence of Christian radio and audio dramas on Rachel’s early love for voice and storytelling.
• Early realizations of difference—Rachel’s discomfort with gendered expectations and required silence for women in church.
• The pivotal moment at Bible college: being dismissed from a job for having short hair, highlighting the consequences of non-conformity.
• The emotional toll of being judged for appearance and the pressure to fit a prescribed mold.
• Rachel’s journey through denial and eventual acceptance of her sexuality, including the challenges of navigating faith and identity.
• The experience of being directly questioned about her sexuality and the anger and self-reflection it provoked.
• The process of deconstructing faith—questioning dogma, seeking authenticity, and ultimately leaving the church to pursue a more genuine spiritual path.
• Insights on the difference between following rules for appearance versus living with honesty and love.
• The importance of community, creativity, and finding like-minded people after leaving a restrictive environment.
• Rachel’s message of honoring every step of the journey, even the difficult ones, as necessary for growth and self-acceptance.
• The episode closes with encouragement for listeners to embrace their own paths, seek community, and find freedom in authenticity.
• Find out more about Rachel and watch her TEDx Talk at www.racheldickson.com

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

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