Women's Interests
Copyright 2006 Surewoman.com

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Many women find themselves at cross-roads in their lives and want to change careers. It can be a time of uncertainty and the transition can be challenging. It requries a huge leap of faith that the decision will result in a richer, more satisfying life. For 20 years, Rev. Laurie Sue was a successful journalist with articles in publications such Ladies Home Journal, Woman's World, Newsday, Boston Globe and Washington Post. A decade ago, a personal loss made her look inward. Taking a leap of faith, she eased from journalism to become an interfaith minister. Combining her journalism skills along with ministering, she 's considered an expert on relationships, marriage, spirituality and empowering women.

After a long and impressive career as a journalist, how does one jump from editor-in-chief at Playgirl magazine to an interfaith Minister? It was not quite a jump. It was more of a process that began when my father died, and continued during my training in seminary. In many ways, it was like a part of me died and I had to let go so a new part of me could be born. Easing from one career to another was a huge challenge – financially, emotionally, spiritually. As a single mother with a very young son to support, and I was worried about where the path would lead me. But I wanted to create a more soulful life for us that was rich in spirit and grace. The pull to transform my life and my life's work was strong and it kept moving me, one foot in front of another, to where I was meant to be.

Wasn't it painful and difficult to let go of the life you knew? Ouch. Yes. In order to experience such a complete transformation, I had to end one thing to begin the new part of my career. It was also a huge awakening. Journalism had been my soul job since college. I gave my all to it and I felt quite accomplished in that part of my career; Playgirl was just a part of 20 years of devotion to that field. I 'd covered amazing stories and met extraordinary people. I was ready for a different role. Interestingly, nine years later, I find that I have re-introduced and integrated journalism into my life as a minister. Those skills and passions are still very much a part of my every day life. I guess I am a media minister. It all fits together now.

What was your training like? It was amazing. I cried for two years, it was all so moving. I attended a seminary dedicated to the training of interfaith ministers and geared toward facilitating a multi-faith understanding of spirituality, and the concept that people can know The Divine by many names and faces. I was trained in all the tenants and rituals an all religions. As it turned out, my background and expertise in relationship writing prepared me to become a wedding minister.

Having made the successful transition from one career to another, what would you say to a woman who wants to transform her life, change careers or move forward?

Follow your heart and gut. Begin to plan, plot and create your next career. Walk out backwards from your current job - meaning, you put things in place for your new life, while systematically disconnecting your energy from the place you must leave. Take care of as much of the practical stuff as you can while you are employed -- going back to school or getting special training, saving money, making sure you have a way to take care of your kids during the tough times.

Then there comes a time when you will know you must move one. When the need to evolve is so strong you feel you will suffocate if you do not move forward. When the yearning for the a new passion is strong ... it is all telling you, now, take the leap, its time. I kept this Anais Nin Quote taped to my computer: "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

It's been a decade since I began my training for ministry. I can now see that all I was before and all I can become began to meld together. Although I had to detach from some of the things I did in my first career, over time, I could continue the parts I loved. I kept writing books. And my articles were published widely on the internet and in regional publications. Just recently I was asked to launch a new on-line wedding publication. This allows me to use my journalistic and editing skills, along with my wedding wisdom and experience.

Yesterday I found a beautiful green grasshopper on my kitchen curtain. I had never seen one in the garden let alone in the house. I gently removed it from the curtain and put it outside to hop away. I felt it had a message so I looked up the meaning of Grasshopper Medicine for insight into why it had come to me. Here's what I found:

"The Chinese symbol of good luck and abundance, Grasshopper gives its totem people the ability to take chances. To move on hunches and take the leap forward. Things might not move for them as they do for other people; progress is not step-by-step, but rather extremely fast. Trust your own instincts on when to make the leaps. Trust your inner voice. It will lead you to great successes. Don’t be afraid to leap – and remember that Grasshopper only leaps forward – never backward."

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