Alone: Anxiety and the Absence of Presence

Whether we are caring directly for those who are vulnerable, developing government policy that advocates for them, or building a non-profit foster and adoption organization, one human element you can count on being in play is anxiety. Anxiety is understood to be one of the fundamental distress signals in human beings. But what exactly is anxiety, and what is the ultimate “distress” it is signaling? Moreover, what difference does it make that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had more to say about anxiety than almost any other topic?

What we do know is that for us to flourish—and do so distinctly—we must address our anxiety effectively in order to create beauty and goodness in the domains of life we occupy. This workshop will explore the interpersonal neurobiological mechanics of anxiety and offer practical insights and applications for anyone seeking to co-labor with God on behalf of the vulnerable people we serve.