My Vision Statement

Hello everybody, Sarah Woolley here again. Haven’t spoken in a while, since my last entry “Some People Struggle With,” and the long ago posted “When Visions Blind.” Looking back on some of those entries, particularly “Some People Struggle With,” which was a poem, I’m realizing how this one will tie in nicely. It is almost a manifestation of some of the hope and yearning I was expressing in that last poem. God has really been honing my vision and whispering to me, and all this vision stuff, after months of seeking, is really starting to come together.

So–basically (to explain), it is nearing the end of the year for us five apprentices here at NCSA, and we have traversed the legendary “Life Compass” process, in which we look at all our personality and gifts tests combined and really sit with God on where He might be leading us next. Part of that encompasses a personal “Vision Statement,” meant as an expression of our deepest convictions and passions thus far relating to our futures. It is understood that such a statement is under constant revision, but it is a way of declaring to ourselves (and to one another) that “yes, this is what I see myself doing, being, valuing, trying, etc.” in the future. Without further ado, here is mine as a living example. Please know it is still under revision, but it is at a place that I am content with for now. Thanks for allowing me to share it with you, and for seeing me go through the process that’s led up to it throughout the year. . .

My Vision Statement

Overall, I see myself working for and devoting my life to justice, healing, unity, rejuvenation, redemption, and reconciliation. I envision myself bringing others closer to Jesus by my life. I will fight for Sabbath rest, health and growth, and the God-given ability to imagine, ask questions, and dream, for others and myself. I will also continually seek new ideas of what could maybe look Right in a world rife with Wrong, and struggle to live them out with friends and enemies if possible.

More pointedly, I choose to follow my dreams and devote the whole of my life, creative talents, goals and ambitions to helping other people. To this end, I see myself as a contender and prophetic voice for the poor, the confused, the abused, and the outcast, primarily in the areas of Africa and Latin America. I will develop deep levels of trust with those God leads me to as I commit to entering and honoring their realities, either by following them into their homes or living alongside them. My desire is to represent, through any combination of writing, speaking, art, and photography, those without representation, offering those previously “unasked” a chance to speak, reaffirming their dignity in the process. I will do this out of love, following God’s guidance in my methods of representation. I will actively stand beside them as an encourager and advocate, but mostly their friend. I commit to representing their realities authentically, at all costs, showing that they mean more to me than those current realities. I will also give them permission to dream again, or perhaps for the first time, reigniting in them a passion for True Life. I will encourage them to ask questions and invite them to answer them themselves. Lastly, I will offer my own story as an example and inspiration of hope.

As I live out this vision, I see myself in a community of believers of similar orientation, where we daily hold each other accountable to one another’s callings. Within such a community, I will pursue the aid of a spiritual mentor, and will grow as one myself. Here, I am one who leads without formality, loves, laughs and cries with other members of the community, and invites and welcomes others around us. These are people with whom I am committed to following God and navigating life. They are encouraging and actively supportive of my own dream of helping to tell others’ stories. As a whole, we are united in bringing about change in the world by means of God’s own kingdom vision.

~Sarah K. Woolley

Justice and Faith?

Recently my thinking has been challenged on the subject of justice. Honestly, I don’t remember justice ever really being connected to my faith; it’s always been more connected to politics in my mind. I’ve never really been the victim of injustice personally either, so I can’t say I’ve even thought about it much. The closest I came to critically thinking about justice during the first 20 years of my life was my fascination with John Grisham novels, which really just reinforced my perception of justice’s connection to politics. Now I’m wondering if–although the connections to politics are real and significant–justice isn’t more connected to faith.

In my reading lately, the promptings to consider issues of injustice have significantly increased, as has my interaction with individuals struggling with issues of justice and faith. I don’t think it’s only my reading though, I think overall, justice issues have started coming to the fore more often than in the past. So I’m taking this chance to raise a few questions that have shaped my recent thought process on the interplay of justice and faith, to share a few of my personal thoughts, and hopefully to elicit some feedback with our extended community’s (your) thoughts.

• What shapes our understanding of justice?

John Hayes with InnerChange brought up this question in a conversation here recently. I guess I was thinking justice was one of those concepts that transcends culture, upbringing, experience, etc. Justice may be, but our understanding of justice is probably significantly shaped by those things and others too. As I think about it, my general understanding of justice sounds distinctly American (freedom of choice, equality of opportunity, etc.). I wonder how good or bad that is…shouldn’t faith play some part in shaping my understanding of justice?

• Is justice really about interconnectedness?

I have the sneaking and scary suspicion that justice and injustice are directly related to our interconnectedness. It’s scary because I don’t think ignorance is an excuse for perpetuating injustice. So if my support for our participation in privatization, militarization, etc. creates justice issues elsewhere, it’s not just “their” issue, it’s my issue, or more correctly it’s my problem. The question, “Who is my neighbor?” seems to be getting redefined. Thanks to Stephan De Beer of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation for linking interconnectedness and justice for me.

• Is justice really becoming an increasingly significant issue? Why?

I think so, at least for me it is. One reason may be that, as globalization brings us closer together and media broadcasts our interactions all over, the fact that our actions affect others is becoming inescapable. Bob Robinson at his Vanguard Church Blog suggests it’s also becoming more significant because issues of justice, or injustice, are on the hearts and minds of postmoderns.

• What does justice in God’s Kingdom look like? Do we work towards that now or just wait for it?

Here’s the real question, where faith connects with justice and our lives betray what we really believe. I’ve got a few ideas that I’m not sure how to put into words yet, but I’m convinced we have to explore how to work towards a Kingdom justice now.

What are your thoughts on justice and faith?

Create and ReCreate

Have you ever reflected on your ability to create? Earlier this week I was kneading sourdough to make some bread. Baking your own bread is truly an amazing process. My dear friend Judy gave me some of her sourdough starter last July and I brought it back to SA (thankfully, prior to the recent restrictions on liquids in carry-ons!) Judy also provided me with some instructions on how to “feed” and take care of my starter and a sourdough bread recipe. So, I’ve been experimenting with the sourdough bread making process off and on throughout this year. After a few flops, over-bakes, under-bakes and “just not sour enough” tasting bread, I think I’ve learned how to turn out some amazing home baked sourdough. ME!…I was able to create two perfectly browned loaves of fresh bread from a single cup of yeasty, runny starter!

It’s not only the finished product which I enjoy, but also the process. It begins by taking a cup from the starter then mixing in some flour and water. I then set it aside and wait for the “sponge” to develop, usually overnight. The next morning I add in the rest of the ingredients, mixing them up to form the dough. Then it’s time to knead. Kneading dough is invigorating! I love working with the dough, feeling it stiffen as I gradually add the flour. I set the dough aside to rest and then a bit more kneading. As I work with the dough I discover my rhythm. I set the dough aside again and wait for it to rise. Next I form the loaves and then, again, set them aside to rise. Now, they are ready for the oven. And within 25 minutes, tasty sourdough bread!

So, what have you created recently? Maybe it’s not bread, but I bet if you take a moment to reflect you’ll come up with something. I believe that the ability to create is in all of us. Humans were created in God’s image and He has given us an innate ability and desire to create. And after God created the earth and everything in it, He sat back to rest. To gaze on all that He had made. And He said it was good. And, I think, what was “good” was not only the finished product, which continues to amaze and inspire both Him and us to this day, but also the process of creating was good. It’s fulfilling and energizing to create. And just as we have an innate need to create, we have a need to rest.

Recently I’ve been considering what God means when He talks about rest/Sabbath. I’m reading a great book called The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan. I’m only on the third chapter, but I can already say that I recommend it wholeheartedly. I still have a lot to discover, but here are a few ways God has been showing me about how I can rest…
• taking time to be fully present with my kids, gazing on them, seeing their goodness
• taking time to be alone somewhere I can be with myself, and with God, some where that no one needs me to do or be anything for them
• taking time to slow down in the midst of my busy day and allow God to speak to me through the things I see or hear, and truly see/hear them
• taking time to create something using my mind, heart, and/or hands