A Word from Shelley Pulliam

a keynote speaker at the IGNITE Conference – February 7  

Life seemed beautiful to me.  I pursued my dreams.  I adored my family.  I cherished my friends.  I excelled in my profession.  The fact that my life was stunted, unable to grow past pre-set boundaries, never occurred to me.  I considered my view exquisite even if I did peer between the bars of my self-imposed cage, a cage fashioned from low self worth and out of control weight.  Those steel bars became a part of my scenery to the point I was unaware of their existence.

But God knew.  Even more importantly, He cared.  I awakened one morning to hear God say, “No more, Shelley.  No more will you live your life from inside a cage.  It’s time to step out and become the person I created you to be.  This is not my intent for your life.” 

I began the journey to reclaim my life, one step at a time . . . some baby steps, some giant steps, but every day required a step. When I finally came to the moment the door swung open wide and I stepped forth, I looked back to find I had not spent my time alone in that cage.  God had been there all along.   

Excerpt from Shelley Pulliam’s book Keys to Unlocking the Cage