These past few weeks have been emotionally pretty challenging for me. My sense of self-worth is built on being helpful. So I spent the first few weeks of January trying to convince myself that I could be helpful in ways beyond directing the music program at ORUUC. Ashton has taken over the program so seamlessly that I felt kind of "empty" with such a reduced workload. And since school doesn't start until later this week, I didn't think I would have much to fill the void. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
First came a request from Anna Thomas, the Music Director at First Presbyterian, to sing "O, Divine Redeemer" for a memorial service. I gladly agreed and the whole experience was so fulfilling. It met my need to fill the time void with rehearsing as well as my desire to be helpful. The service was this past weekend and I was filled with such gratitude to be able to share my voice.
Next, my new status as "student" afforded me the opportunity to attend a presentation by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Second Lady Dr Jill Biden at my new school, Pellissippi State Community College. I mean, what are the chances? That I now live in Tennessee, that I decided to go back to school, that I registered at Pellissippi, that I got a ticket in the lottery, that my work schedule is flexible enough to allow me to attend... It was just a once in a lifetime opportunity. I truly enjoyed it, despite my rants on starving that many of you have heard.
I've also spent time with my family. We all went to see the new "Annie" movie, then my daughter and I watched the stage production in Knoxville. We also went with some friends to see "Into the Woods." I like to think of this extra time with the kids as making up for all the time I didn't see them in the Fall, but really I think my kids don't know what to do with me when I'm around. I get groans when I say I'm making dinner at home instead of going out. :)
Most recently, I've filled my time with anti-racism work. I've co-led an effort at our church (with Heidi Brenner) to create an Allies for Racial Equity group. We had our first meeting this weekend and I was really pleased with the turnout. Many of us attended the local MLK Fellowship Breakfast this morning and several others participated in the Knoxville MLK Day parade. We have a group of 6 people getting trained to deliver Beloved Conversations workshops next weekend, so that our entire congregation can benefit from this powerful workshop. We've got a group planning to join the 50th Anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" March in Selma. And there are so many more ideas coming forward from this team. I'm really proud to be a part of it.
So, there you have it... how I spent the past few weeks. Wednesday officially begins my new chapter as "student" once again. I'm looking forward to it - with a little hesitation in being twice the age of most of the people in the room. But that's a story for another day. :)
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