Word for the month ~ June 2007

Authentically You!
In the mid to late eighty's Coca Cola company published a catchy jingle entitled, "Can't beat the real thing". I've often thought this slogan posed a warning to other competitors by maintaining their soft drink as the one and only authentic, original cola product. Although other cola products could be found, their product was deemed the classic. In other words, this company swears by their ingredients, maintains Coke products are not copied, false or counterfeit, but they are bonafide, reliable and credible, true to their name and reputation.

Several months ago Ms. Grey walked into my office requesting assistance with planning to conduct her job search. Although she had previous work experience, her work history was sketchy and equaled no more than receiving wages for completing a task. She had been unsuccessful in securing meaningful, gainful employment and had succumbed to the relentless blows of constant rejection in her job search. What do you think is holding you back, I asked? She sat quietly for a few moments and then said, "Maybe it's the interview." I asked Ms. Grey to step outside of my office, regain her composure and return to the office as if she were coming to interview with me. She entered, we shook hands, exchanged greetings and she took a seat. I then asked her to tell me about herself. It appeared that she was at a loss for words, speaking primarily of her role as a wife, mother and care taker for an aging parent. I was convinced that Ms. Grey had lost sight of herself, drowning in the long list of roles and responsibilities she had assumed while caring for others. She was unable to confidently and reliably express who she was; unable to speak of her person hood, name her unique qualities and those attributes that would make her the ideal candidate and set her apart from the rest. Like and actor on a stage, her true identity had been hidden under the weight of conformity to many roles and parts she had to play. Whether to conceal or protect, she adorned the garments, the mask had been molded, cast and set, hiding Ms. Grey from herself, negatively impacting her self esteem and preventing legitimate self expression, authentic relationships with God, herself and others.

Many people call me Reverend, some call me Elder and others call me Prophetess. These are titles proceeding my name; distinguishing designations descriptive of roles, ranks or callings in a particular sphere of my work. They are also representations of the different vocational garments I wear but in no way do they speak of who I am. If you are defining yourself only by daily roles, ranks and responsibilities, then you deceive yourself and others by limiting full expression of the person you were created to be. At some point we must stop and and ask ourselves this question; "Who am I?" If we are honest with ourselves, this is when convergence takes place, a point of prayerful deliberation, a meeting place where all parts of yourself -mind, body, soul and spirit come together working to achieve a common unity.

Maybe it's time to stop for a minute, find a place of solitude. Free yourself - cast off the garments and masks of your many roles and "Talk to the me that nobody sees". In this place of liberation, give no consideration to your flaws, peculiarities or imperfections; we all have them. God loves all parts of you; the good parts, the bad parts and the parts that are not so cute. Instead, consider those things that make you unique - those parts of yourself that you have kept hidden for fear of what others might think. Like fingerprints, you are one of a kind, completely unique, an original design with much more of you to be realized beyond what we view. When authencity is our practice, we move beyond rituals and rites and into the realms of deliverance. Then our motives and actions can become pure and absolute, without pretense, provoking others to do the same. Finally..... "Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things - fix your minds on them. Practice what you have learned and recieved and heard..... model your way of living on it; And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 Amplified

Word for the Month - May 2007

Mission Impossible?
In my early years, Mission Impossible was my television show of choice. Covert specialists serving as operatives in the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) received mission briefings on reel-to-reel tape. After tapes were played they would self-destruct in 5 seconds and basic mission information quickly disappeared in a cloud of smoke leaving no other details. IMF agents always had the option to refuse or accept a mission yet in either case, no concrete strategic plans were given to dictate how agents should proceed. It was left up to agents to carefully discern, methodically plan and execute the most effective course of action although success was never guaranteed.

Have you ever been sent on a mission that seemed impossible to fulfill? Early in my professional career, I was given the opportunity to work as program manager, arranging educational services and support groups for single parents and disadvantaged adults. I had no formal training, experience or detailed instructions to guarantee program or client success. To top things off, I was also a part time student, wife and mother driving a broken down car. Since this was a new program, there was no predecessor or strategic plan to guide my actions, only an initial mission briefing from the program director who remained bogged down under the weight of fiscal responsibilities. It was left up to me to carefully discern and plan to execute a positive course of action. Could I pull this off? Am I smart enough? I'm certainly not skilled or equipped enough. I had so many questions, yet little did I realize that the answers I needed were hidden within the mission. But somehow I knew this wasn't about me, it was about a mission that needed to be accepted for someone else, an assignment that needed to be completed to catapult someone into destiny. I often wondered what would have happened had I not accepted the mission, until the day I was reunited with a client I had served but not seen in over13 years.

As I walked down the aisle in the store, a sudden tap on my shoulder diverted my attention to a women standing behind me whose face I could recognize but name I couldn't remember. She spoke of our short lived relationship, reminding me of her struggle with a speech impediment that had never been properly corrected although she had undergone many surgery's. I had paid for her tuition, books and child care enabling her to enroll in a college accounting course but she vanished from the program and community, never seen nor heard from again until that day. As she stood there, tears began to form in her eyes while she spoke of her battle with cancer and the victory in her full recovery. She then said, "Thank you - When no one else encouraged me I've always remembered how much you believed in me, how much you inspired me to dream and keep working towards my future, and I believe my dream kept me alive during my illness." Motivated by her dream, she graduated from college with her degree in accounting in 2005. In that very moment I came to realize one of my many missions had been accomplished howbeit in a brief encounter some 13 years earlier with a woman I didn't truly get to know.

Whether we choose to accept a mission or not, all of us called to specifically assigned territories within our workplaces, homes or communities. These are our mission fields, the places where we will be used to affect lives, prayerfully shape, positively influence and significantly impact change, even though we may not always see immediate outcomes. Sometimes our missions may appear in the most inconspicuous places; you may stumble upon a mission in the grocery store while shopping for Sunday dinner, you may realize a mission at the hair salon, at a concert or the local gas station. You may question the particulars of your mission, you may want benefit of greater details or promise of successful outcomes. You may wonder if you are qualified to accomplish the mission. "Show me, tell me Lord" may be your most frequent prayer request. You may look for answers from family and friends however your answers may lay in the mission field itself. Do not allow fear or complacency to rule because you are not totally certain about the nature of your mission. Simply remember to lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own understanding - in all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. For with God nothing is impossible. Luke 1:37, Proverbs 3:5-6 Amplified