Comments on: The Right Side of Everything.

By: Lin Preiss

Lin Preiss — Thu, 18 May 2023 19:55:36 +0000

Jen,
Thank you so much for sharing, and framing your journey in this way. For me, I can relate a lot to knowing how to “thrive” and be a model example of White Christian Woman in the ARC model. What was it like for you to own “being a threat” and what did it feel like to shift from dampening that threat to utilizing it for good?
What I really appreciate about you is your stance of having “SO MUCH to learn”, as I see you embodying it in a humble, but whole self (mind, body, spirit, HUMOR) sort of way. I hear how your learning posture amplifies and clarifies your voice, for good of others and of community, rather than silence or unsteady your understanding of self. It seems that you open yourself to being uncomfortable in a way that seems to clarify rather than muddy your understanding of heart and mind. How would you describe the posture of learning and discomfort?

By: Hannah Lutz, NA-23

Hannah Lutz, NA-23 — Mon, 08 May 2023 00:13:17 +0000

Jen, this is a beautiful reflection. It’s so hard to look back and to see where things that might have seemed right at the time were actually not great, and maybe even harmful. You really poured it out here. Thank you!

By: Scott Rasmussen, JOH-23

Scott Rasmussen, JOH-23 — Wed, 03 May 2023 20:51:29 +0000

Jen – it is refreshing to read about your experiences, because it helps me see that I am not alone. I feel that I’m currently in the phase you talked about where I am finding out how it feels to have authority react to me. It is wildly uncomfortable, particularly because for so long I identified myself, as you described, as the rule follower, quick to get an upper hand or express superiority through argument or positioning.

And your example about teaching and leading youth, and setting them up to feel shame – wow. I feel like I’m struggling with that every day. How do I teach my children to respect and honor God, without fearing Him the way that some of their church leaders set them up to do? More importantly, perhaps, how do I work with those leaders to help them see that their framework is pushing people away? Even in writing that I use the language of “me” and “them.”

Your post brings up so much for me. Thank you for having the courage to write it out and the willingness to share.