For those of you who don’t keep up with such things, today is International Women’s Day (IWD) – a day inaugurated in 1910 to focus on issues of justice and equity for women.
I wanted to write something to commemorate this event…but what? I could blather on about how gender injustice is alive and well, or risk boring you with an academic discussion about the women’s movement. But I can think of no greater tribute to this day then to share with you about the amazing women in my own life. None of them are famous…but to me, they are extraordinary. These are the women who have inspired, challenged, and loved me. Through their ordinary living they exhibit courage, grace, tenacity, passion, faith and creativity. And in doing so, have had a profound impact on my life.
To be sure, these women are hardly perfect. They live in the same insecurities, dysfunction and humanity of us all. But as image bearers, they truly reflect G-d to the world in special ways.
I think I need to start with my mom. I haven’t always had great things to say about her. Indeed, ours has been a difficult relationship marked more by distance than intimacy. But I have come to appreciate some things about her that make her remarkable and that have been instrumental in the woman I have become.
First, my mom is smart…very smart. Though she has little formal education, she is curious, self-taught and reads like no one else I know. Don’t even get her started about obscure southern history. You will lose! I am sure that my intellectual bent, curiosity and love of knowledge and learning come from her. The other thing that is remarkable I just realized this year. My mom hates racism and taught me the same. I have often wondered why I have the strong feelings I do about equality and racial justice. I recently learned that from the age of 2, I had friends of different races, often spending the night with them when that was frowned on. Mom has cool stories about in-your-face confrontations with people on this issue and about my naïve questioning when other friends or grandparents balked at these relationships. Both my love of learning and being drawn to ethnic diversity have become cornerstones of my life. Thanks mom!
From here, my world of women explodes. My numerous aunts, cousins, sisters and daughters are some of the strongest and most creative people on the planet. They are educators, musicians, lawyers, artists, adventurers, nurturers, survivors, dancers, leaders, mentors and theologians.
When I think back on the places I have lived, it is often the women who stand out. They are the ones that work hard to make community happen, modeling faith and service and nurturing relationships. It is the women who were quick to develop and lead ministries, nurse the sick, feed the hungry and teach G-d’s word.
I think of the women who were instrumental in planting a new church in Lake Jackson in the mid-nineties. There were many, but in particular Julie, Michelle, Christie, Susan, Faith, Tracie, Lett, Valerie, Sharron and Sandy caught a vision for a community of faith that caused them to work tirelessly to make it happen. Their passion and service helped create a place that continues to make a difference in people’s lives. While we were all together, these particular women loved G-d and each other with an intensity that changed my life.
And they taught me how to really love other women.
Some of my newest female friends humble me with their skill and their passion. Jill, Jessica, Marcie, Julie, Heather, Donna P, Donna B and Elizabeth challenge me on a daily basis and keep me on my toes. They force me to keep growing and press into God in new ways to become the best me possible.
I think the women who inspire me most are those that have continued to grow as they age. Instead of being content with the status quo, these women flourish, try new things and reinvent their lives with great courage. I know countless women who are going back to school, changing careers and taking risks in order to make a difference in the world. Specifically I think of Tricia, who changed gears mid stream to pursue a call to rescue abused and neglected children. This former interior designer now runs a fully licensed foster care and adoption agency. My good friend, Jill, gave up a high powered and creative position in the corporate world to follow her passion to pastor children. Robin is finishing her Mdiv, Donna is running political campaigns and Rose, a pastor in Seattle, is forging new paths as a female senior leader in the Vineyard Movement.
Finally, there are those women who are simply heroic to me. Evelyn is one. When most people are glancing towards their rocking chairs, she planted another church. Living in community with her for a couple of years helped cement in me the reality that I want to do this for the rest of my life. Another is Clara who took over as Senior Pastor when her husband became sick. Both of these women spoke into my future by their example and by affirming my leadership – and they probably have no idea.
There are undoubtedly others, but people will only read so many paragraphs!
I wanted to write something to commemorate this event…but what? I could blather on about how gender injustice is alive and well, or risk boring you with an academic discussion about the women’s movement. But I can think of no greater tribute to this day then to share with you about the amazing women in my own life. None of them are famous…but to me, they are extraordinary. These are the women who have inspired, challenged, and loved me. Through their ordinary living they exhibit courage, grace, tenacity, passion, faith and creativity. And in doing so, have had a profound impact on my life.
To be sure, these women are hardly perfect. They live in the same insecurities, dysfunction and humanity of us all. But as image bearers, they truly reflect G-d to the world in special ways.
I think I need to start with my mom. I haven’t always had great things to say about her. Indeed, ours has been a difficult relationship marked more by distance than intimacy. But I have come to appreciate some things about her that make her remarkable and that have been instrumental in the woman I have become.
First, my mom is smart…very smart. Though she has little formal education, she is curious, self-taught and reads like no one else I know. Don’t even get her started about obscure southern history. You will lose! I am sure that my intellectual bent, curiosity and love of knowledge and learning come from her. The other thing that is remarkable I just realized this year. My mom hates racism and taught me the same. I have often wondered why I have the strong feelings I do about equality and racial justice. I recently learned that from the age of 2, I had friends of different races, often spending the night with them when that was frowned on. Mom has cool stories about in-your-face confrontations with people on this issue and about my naïve questioning when other friends or grandparents balked at these relationships. Both my love of learning and being drawn to ethnic diversity have become cornerstones of my life. Thanks mom!
From here, my world of women explodes. My numerous aunts, cousins, sisters and daughters are some of the strongest and most creative people on the planet. They are educators, musicians, lawyers, artists, adventurers, nurturers, survivors, dancers, leaders, mentors and theologians.
When I think back on the places I have lived, it is often the women who stand out. They are the ones that work hard to make community happen, modeling faith and service and nurturing relationships. It is the women who were quick to develop and lead ministries, nurse the sick, feed the hungry and teach G-d’s word.
I think of the women who were instrumental in planting a new church in Lake Jackson in the mid-nineties. There were many, but in particular Julie, Michelle, Christie, Susan, Faith, Tracie, Lett, Valerie, Sharron and Sandy caught a vision for a community of faith that caused them to work tirelessly to make it happen. Their passion and service helped create a place that continues to make a difference in people’s lives. While we were all together, these particular women loved G-d and each other with an intensity that changed my life.
And they taught me how to really love other women.
Some of my newest female friends humble me with their skill and their passion. Jill, Jessica, Marcie, Julie, Heather, Donna P, Donna B and Elizabeth challenge me on a daily basis and keep me on my toes. They force me to keep growing and press into God in new ways to become the best me possible.
I think the women who inspire me most are those that have continued to grow as they age. Instead of being content with the status quo, these women flourish, try new things and reinvent their lives with great courage. I know countless women who are going back to school, changing careers and taking risks in order to make a difference in the world. Specifically I think of Tricia, who changed gears mid stream to pursue a call to rescue abused and neglected children. This former interior designer now runs a fully licensed foster care and adoption agency. My good friend, Jill, gave up a high powered and creative position in the corporate world to follow her passion to pastor children. Robin is finishing her Mdiv, Donna is running political campaigns and Rose, a pastor in Seattle, is forging new paths as a female senior leader in the Vineyard Movement.
Finally, there are those women who are simply heroic to me. Evelyn is one. When most people are glancing towards their rocking chairs, she planted another church. Living in community with her for a couple of years helped cement in me the reality that I want to do this for the rest of my life. Another is Clara who took over as Senior Pastor when her husband became sick. Both of these women spoke into my future by their example and by affirming my leadership – and they probably have no idea.
There are undoubtedly others, but people will only read so many paragraphs!
So, in observation of IWD, I hope you will join me to think about the contributions of the important women in your life.
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