About Presence ‘n Process
Hey there, I’m Jazmine. You’re welcome here at Presence ‘n Process on this messy but redeemable journey of growing. I’m a seminary student and writer working on a science fiction novel and writing guest articles elsewhere as I recover from trauma and long COVID. Here you’ll find posts on theology, women in the church, gardening, health, parenting, sermons, and whatever else collides in life these days.
From the blog
- Bible as genius literature
One of my favourite aspects of studying the Bible in seminary is its literature-ness. All that stuff I learned in high school and university English classes is in there in spades. I may not have noticed it because the material was often presented as moral stories, not masterful… Read more: Bible as genius literature - Why Story? 3
Control is a safe place. That I know from experience. Until the control gets blown up and I’m left desperate for more stories to help me understand what got me to this new place and how to get out. I’m realizing that I seek out story because I have an experience—a testimony—of story helping in the past. - Why Story? 2
Last post, I began looking at why story is so important to me as I emerge from extensive trauma and health problems to find that hearing, reading and watching stories profoundly affect me, physically and emotionally. This is, in itself, a clue that story is deeply meaningful, and… Read more: Why Story? 2
About Jazmine
I grew up in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator. In the first years of service I received a Bachelor of Science in Honours Physics from the University of British Columbia. Later postings included Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec before settling in Nova Scotia. Throughout the postings serious but mysterious health issues developed, eventually revealed as caused by chronic stress. Counselling and alternative healthcare helped me learn how to begin to recover. I earned a diploma in natural nutrition, then entered seminary fueled by theological questions. It was at this point I became aware of my denomination, church and seminary’s stance on gender hierarchy. The way this played out worsened my already struggling physical and mental health. It takes enormous energy to wrestle against authoritative voices which value women less. Years passed before I recognized the impact. With a severely depressed immune system, enter long COVID and triple the health issues. Changing geographic locations, seminaries and denominations provided the safety to process and learn how to recover from the traumas. Creativity is a major part of trauma recovery, so I write not just to heal but also to engage my community in the process. Thank you for your presence.
Presence ‘n Process 