Goodness Weekly 2.27.23
“You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It's a goldfish. It's got a 10 second memory.”
— Ted Lasso
What’s Good:
This past week we gathered in the Chapel for our campus’ first Ash Wednesday service. We are so thankful to our ministers Jess, Chelsea, and Riley for all their hard work in creating this beautiful, contemplative space through worship, liturgy, and prayer stations. We look forward to more opportunities to join in community for special times like this and can’t wait for next year’s service!
Message from Jess:
What is one thing you wish people knew about you?
For me, it’s that I am scared.
A couple of weeks ago our family minister, Chelsea, hosted a beautiful youth family dinner. Those of us with teen children gathered over a meal together and answered conversation questions, prayed, and broke bread.
One of the questions was the one referenced above. I didn’t share it aloud at the table but it’s what my heart kept saying—a lot of the time, I’m really scared.
I’m scared I’ll mess up.
I’m scared I’ll hurt someone.
I’m scared I’ll do or say the wrong thing.
I’ve been in leadership positions my entire life. As a child I started a lemonade stand that also sold other goods and, after much success, I was threatened by the corner store owner so strongly that we ended up on the news! In middle school, I was president of the fitness club (don’t laugh), and began a breakfast program so that my classmates would have access to affordable breakfast options in their homeroom class. At 18 years old, I was store manager at a Sam Goody music store and by 19 years old I won the leadership ring in Las Vegas for the top store in the Musicland corporation. At 25 years old, during the recession of 2008, I managed a bank in the midst of the mortgage crisis and yet I didn’t feel as afraid as I sometimes do now of what it means to be a leader.
But now things are different. When we began this work of the Collective and I felt God calling me into a larger leadership role, I decided to start regular therapy. My therapist asked during intake why I was there and my response was: “I don’t want to hurt anybody.” You don’t have to dig very deep into the news about church communities to find a church leader who is injurious to their congregation.
Now three years in, I sat with my therapist recently with the same questions and the same fear: “What if I mess up?” And she smiled at me and said, “You have, and you will—you’re human.”
We all have the capacity to love and care and do incredible good. And we all have the capacity to hurt and let ego get in the way. We’re human. When we do mess up, we make amends, we learn, and we get back up and go again.
It’s true of each of us. There are no perfect people. I don’t have all of this figured out and I am scared a lot of the time. I am human.
I wonder what it would be like for us to live more authentically. To let each other off the hook a little bit instead of expecting so much from the people around us that they can never measure up to our standards. And the same goes for ourselves—what if, when we do the wrong thing, we apologize, commit to trying to be better, and forgive ourselves? I think the world would be a better place to live in and we might know a little more about what it’s like to love God, love ourselves, and love our neighbors.
Love, Jess
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, March 1st, 7:00pm Youth Group at The Stirmans
Sunday, March 5th, 4:30pm Supper Church
Thursday, March 9th, 5:30pm Children’s Family Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
Saturday, March 11th, 10:00am Second Saturday Storytime
Saturday, March 25th Coffee Trailer Grand Opening!
Saturday, March 25th, details tba Young Adult Group
Inhale:
I am not required to be perfect
Exhale:
I am worthy of love
