Tarrying at the Altar of Self: Normalizing Self-Confrontation for Healing

Andy, who was the great sister? Bishop Jackie McCullough.

Ladies and gentlemen, you're listening to Zoe Williams, the voice of reason live on KBLA Talk 1580.

I want to welcome you back to the scene of the conversation.

And this is a deep one.

You might think it's about Christianity or the black church or black liberation theology.

It's not.

But it is.

Tonight's topic, we're talking about tarrying.

Tarrying at the altar of self.

Tarrying at the altar of self.

How self-confrontation has the ability to heal.

What does the word tarry mean? Now, in the Pentecostal church, they call it tarrying.

In the Baptist church, they call it the mourning bench.

The term, right, in the black church tradition, tarrying, it means staying longer than usual in a place of worship or prayer to actively wait for the presence, power, or baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I don't know who I'm speaking to this evening, but I want you to turn to your partner and say, I got to go within and tarry.

I got to go within and wait on the Spirit to show me a new me.

Oh, no, we talking tonight.

I don't know who wants to hear this tonight, but I was called to do this topic, tarrying at the altar of self.

How self-confrontation has the ability to heal.

From the black church, right, from the black church, the mourner's bench to self-healing.

Facing your orphaned parts, inner child, and shadow with love, not fear.

That's our topic tonight.

See, people have been talking too much about healing, giving it a definition.

One thing, let me tell you something, just giving it a definition, telling you their way is your way.

That's just not how it works.