Lauri McNair, MS, BSW
Have you ever planned a road trip? Of course, most of us have. You have destination in mind; you know where you want to go and how long it will take you to get there. You know how many miles you will travel, where you will stop for gas, lodging, food/meals. Every aspect of your trip is mapped out. You are excited and ready to go.
As you begin your journey, all is well. There is excitement and anticipation about arriving at your destination. As you are driving, you notice an unexpected detour. This was NOT in your plans! Your well thought-out, orchestrated, choreographed road trip is not going as planned. Before you know it, you are going down a road that you did not anticipate. Not only are you now off course, you are also lost. All of the initial excitement and anticipation is suddenly replaced with anxiety, a measure of fear, and questions. Where am I? How do I get back on the main road? Will I ever reach my destination? You begin to rely on your vehicle's GPS. This wonderful system of satellites and receivers allows you to pinpoint your exact location, re-routing you so that you are able to get back on course. You are not lost after all! Suddenly, a sense of relief, comfort, and reassurance begins to envelop your mind. Before long, you are back on your way.
Similar to an exciting road trip gone awry, is a wayward, broken heart. Most of us, from our youth, have goals, dreams, and ambitions. Sometimes, the road of life takes us through a journey that we did not anticipate or plan. The unexpected detour often results in a lost sense of direction. Suddenly, an exciting world full of promise and expectation has shifted to a world of confusion, darkness, and uncertainty. Questions begin to swirl in our heads. Where am I? How did I get here? Where is my place in this world? Where do I go from here? Mercifully, God has given us his "GPS"! He is mindful of us and watches over us. Through his Word, the Bible, his Son, Jesus--who came to redeem the lost, and the guidance of his Holy Spirit we have been given a personal navigation system. We do not have to grope through life. We have direction and help as we journey.
I have found this to be true in my life personally. From the age of 13, I knew that I wanted to help people. I KNEW I wanted to be a social worker. I KNEW I wanted to have counseling center. I can even recall drawing a "blueprint" of my center and showing it to my parents. So, I graduated college in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. In 2000, I graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University, now Cairn University, with a Master of Science degree in Christian Counseling. I spent many years working with the severely and chronically mentally ill in in-patient and out-patient settings, provided in-home counseling services for at-risk children, youth, and families, and have served in numerous volunteer positions in youth programs within the church, foodbanks, homeless shelters, hospitals and nursing homes, and charitable organizations.
However, the journey has not always gone as I had envisioned. There have been many unexpected detours, yet I have found God to be faithful. He never leaves us alone. He sends help, comfort, support, rest, healing, and justice. He gives us what need to live an abundant life. And when the unexpected arises, He sustains us and graces us for that. I am a witness! Therefore, it is my earnest desire that my personal experience, professional experience, formal training, and education be used serve the Kingdom and bring God glory.
Contact: lauri@abrokenheartsgps.org
Shared by Lauri McNair, MS
As you begin your journey, all is well. There is excitement and anticipation about arriving at your destination. As you are driving, you notice an unexpected detour. This was NOT in your plans! Your well thought-out, orchestrated, choreographed road trip is not going as planned. Before you know it, you are going down a road that you did not anticipate. Not only are you now off course, you are also lost. All of the initial excitement and anticipation is suddenly replaced with anxiety, a measure of fear, and questions. Where am I? How do I get back on the main road? Will I ever reach my destination? You begin to rely on your vehicle's GPS. This wonderful system of satellites and receivers allows you to pinpoint your exact location, re-routing you so that you are able to get back on course. You are not lost after all! Suddenly, a sense of relief, comfort, and reassurance begins to envelop your mind. Before long, you are back on your way.
Similar to an exciting road trip gone awry, is a wayward, broken heart. Most of us, from our youth, have goals, dreams, and ambitions. Sometimes, the road of life takes us through a journey that we did not anticipate or plan. The unexpected detour often results in a lost sense of direction. Suddenly, an exciting world full of promise and expectation has shifted to a world of confusion, darkness, and uncertainty. Questions begin to swirl in our heads. Where am I? How did I get here? Where is my place in this world? Where do I go from here? Mercifully, God has given us his "GPS"! He is mindful of us and watches over us. Through his Word, the Bible, his Son, Jesus--who came to redeem the lost, and the guidance of his Holy Spirit we have been given a personal navigation system. We do not have to grope through life. We have direction and help as we journey.
I have found this to be true in my life personally. From the age of 13, I knew that I wanted to help people. I KNEW I wanted to be a social worker. I KNEW I wanted to have counseling center. I can even recall drawing a "blueprint" of my center and showing it to my parents. So, I graduated college in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work. In 2000, I graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University, now Cairn University, with a Master of Science degree in Christian Counseling. I spent many years working with the severely and chronically mentally ill in in-patient and out-patient settings, provided in-home counseling services for at-risk children, youth, and families, and have served in numerous volunteer positions in youth programs within the church, foodbanks, homeless shelters, hospitals and nursing homes, and charitable organizations.
However, the journey has not always gone as I had envisioned. There have been many unexpected detours, yet I have found God to be faithful. He never leaves us alone. He sends help, comfort, support, rest, healing, and justice. He gives us what need to live an abundant life. And when the unexpected arises, He sustains us and graces us for that. I am a witness! Therefore, it is my earnest desire that my personal experience, professional experience, formal training, and education be used serve the Kingdom and bring God glory.
Contact: lauri@abrokenheartsgps.org
Shared by Lauri McNair, MS
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Lauri with her daughters, Abigail and Zoe'
(Zoe's Bakery of Hope)
Lauri McNair is the founder of A Broken Heart's Christian Counseling and Resource Center and Holy Hill Ministries. Drawing from her training and education as well as her personal life experiences, Lauri's unique approach to Christian Counseling incorporates empathy, compassion, wisdom, and a genuine concern for the broken and lost. She dedicated her life to the Lord at age 12 and has been serving in ministry in various capacities. She is happily married to Min. Scott McNair and is the proud mother of two dynamic and extraordinary daughters, Abigail and Zoe'.
