Real public service requires trust which requires honesty. It’s not about upholding an image or fealty to a party. It’s not creating a club whose members agree on everything. It’s not an act that follows a script. It’s about showing up real and offering all that you are to help people.
I have an impulse to create an image of perfection for my life. I think we all do. I see it in myself almost every moment of every day. My default position is to hide my imperfections, not show any weakness, not tell the stories of my failures. Why? Because it’s scary to tell the truth—to be seen and known and sometimes judged and rejected. But I have found that the flip side of that fear is freedom. Not only for myself, but other people. Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)
I threw this image up on Facebook and Instagram yesterday after finding it on one of my neglected Pinterest boards. It was my mantra for the day based on a morning of failure. Failure in the form of burnt toast, hungry, unhygienic children; a cluttered house, laundry on the dining table, too tight pants, dirty hair, no blog entries in over a week, an empty bank account, and lateness, just to name a few.
I’m a mother, teacher, writer, seeker. I could tell you I started this blog to make a difference in the world--and it would be great if it does--but that’s not really why I started it.
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