Confessions of a Wounded Idealist

In this episode, Irene Renton of South Africa joins the podcast to explore the definition and the implications of “wounded idealism.” In our lives and in our faith, we experience lows which can leave us disillusioned and disappointed- Irene helps us peel back the layers of these inevitabilities and identifies that faith and idealism are very different things. Whether you identify as idealist or realist, we can all be women that see our lives, circumstances and others in the light of the truth and with eyes of faith. She discusses her book The Wounded Idealist: A Guide Back to Faith for the Christian Cynic, and also the follow up, The Humble Idealist: The Handbook to Healing of the Wounded Idealist- both of which are available on Amazon and IPIbooks.com. About the Speaker: Irene Renton was baptized as a teen and then again as a campus student in Cape Town, South Africa. She went into the ministry after graduation in 1992 and married to Justin Renton in 1997. Together they have 2 children, Elena who is 19 and Luke who is 16; they are both disciples by the mercy and grace of God. In 2007 Irene moved from Cape Town to Johannesburg to oversee the church plus all the churches in Southern Africa. This is where she became a very wounded idealist, very disillusioned in her faith and perspectives on life. Irene battled depression amongst other things and finally recognized that faith and idealism were not the same thing, plus 100 other things. In 2017 she wrote a book on the subject- The Wounded Idealist and then in 2019 wrote the follow up, The Humble Idealist.Episode Notes: Sometimes life can leave us wounded- we can start to feel cynical.“If you scratch under the surface of a cynic, you’ll find a wounded idealist.”How can faithful people, live in a very disappointing world?Identifying Idealists:Great hopegreat expectationsdreamersvisionariespeace-makersInspired/InspiringIdealism and faith are not the same thing.Isaiah 7:9Weaknesses of Idealists:Easily disappointed and surprised when things don’t go as plannedTalkers more than do-ers See things very right vs wrong: can come across as merciless Hate and avoid suffering- constantly want to alleviate hurtImpatient, can give in to self-pity Relational hurts can deeply disappoint and disillusion us, especially if they occur within the church.Disappointment is the gap that exists between reality and expectation. Even if you identify as a realist, it’s difficult to have compassion and love for our cynical friends and family. But if you recognize that they are just wounded idealists, it’s easier and it’s essential to have compassion. **Differences between an idealist and a person of faithThere’s so much hope for wounded women of faith!If you look in the Bible, so many of the great people of faith had devastating circumstances but their faith and depth of love grew through those situations, not in spite of them- humility is the key and humility enables faith. It’s entitlement, and not just disappointment that wounds idealist. Practicals for having compassion on wounded idealists:Ask: What were you hoping for? What were you expecting? Help them identify their expectations that were disappointed.Hear them out, don’t dismiss themHumility is always our way out and our way to faitSupport the showThank you so much for supporting the show. Check out our website or follow us Instagram!