Loyal Soldier

Each of us carries a Loyal Soldier within —

the part of us that fought hard to protect us, to help us succeed, and to keep us moving when life felt uncertain. For years, the Loyal Soldier kept us safe: fueling ambition when we doubted, toughness when we feared weakness, and drive when we were weary. It did its duty well. 
 
But now, the season of battle is over. The very strategies that once helped us survive may now keep us from stepping into the freedom God offers. This is the threshold moment: to honor the Loyal Soldier for its service, and then to let it rest. 
 
In my own journey, I gathered with trusted friends and spoke words of discharge over my Loyal Soldier. I named its gifts — courage, resilience, determination. I also named its costs — the weariness, the pressure to perform, the distance from God’s rest. With gratitude, I said goodbye. It was a moment of laughter and tears, of honoring and release, of stepping forward lighter than before. 
 
Crossing this threshold is not about erasing the past, but about stepping into new life. It is the space where old armor is set down, and love takes its place. As Scripture reminds us: “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5)

A Next Step: The Loyal Soldier Reflections & Workshop 

For those who feel stirred by this imagery and desire to walk through it more intentionally, the Loyal Soldier Reflections & Workshop offers a guided space to do so. 
 
Together, we explore the Loyal Soldier image through teaching and story. We pause to reflect on how it has shaped our own lives — the gifts it gave and the burdens it carried. There is space for journaling, for quiet listening, and for those who wish, sharing in a safe, supportive setting. 
 
The workshop culminates in a symbolic act of gratitude and release — a way of honoring the Loyal Soldier and entrusting ourselves anew to God’s care. 
 
This workshop is a beginning, a threshold step into deeper practices of renewal like Spiritual Direction and oneLife Maps™. But it begins here: by honoring what has been and opening ourselves to what God is making new.