He said
What he wanted to do was to
Create safe spaces
It was a ministry to him
"Safe spaces," I asked
"How do you do that?"
"By helping people be their authentic selves."
Hmm, what if that in itself isn't safe?
I very authentically never feel that kind of safety.
Maybe before I was born or as an infant,
I did
But I can't remember back that far.
Before I was a year old, I was in an iron lung
I can't remember that either,
But I suspect I was frightened
My body stiff with pain and polio.
Fear has lived in me my whole life.
That fear grew as I realized I was
Both female and queer.
What we all need though is not safety
But the courage
To risk being who we are.
Knowing
We are vulnerable always
Simply because we are human.
And, as in the words of our Lorde (Audre)
"It is better to
Speak - remembering
We were never meant to survive."
Ministry is being brave enough to
Journey along with someone
As they dare to enter their own terrifying places.
Scary and definitely "unsafe"
Is how ministry feels to me
But oh, how awesome it can be
To know you are held or holding
Even though the ground is trembling
Even when you are shaking with fear
Even when it might open up
And swallow us all whole
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