Over the past six months, (by the way, my internship year is half over) I have learned a lot about myself. I'm sure much of it is a direct result of my first year of marriage, living with another person as one. That'll teach. Specifically, it has taught me how I process information.
Being extroverted has never surprised me. But what I didn't know was how important it was (is) for me to think out loud. As I hear myself speak, the audio is then played back in my head so that I might correct any errors or unintended malice. Some of you know that my mouth has gotten me into much trouble as I grew up; so this editorial skill has been practiced many times over.
Recently, I've come to rely on this "skill" to think through options and ideas. Whereas most daydreamers keep to themselves, I fantasize outloud. Somehow, it makes it more real to me and I can more easily process the thought and build on it.
Why am I telling you all of this? Two reasons.
- Community Group Hosting
- Rachel and I are hosting an overflow community group at The Journey, basically a small group for people who live near Tower Grove. There were 40 people who, in spite of signing up for a community group, could not be placed because there were no open spaces in the existing groups and no leaders to lead additional groups. After talking it over, Rachel and I decided it would be a good idea for us to serve in this way and it would also result in bring a sense of community closer to home, literally.
- The first night went really well. We were just getting to know a little about each other and sharing with one another, what we want to get out of the group. Also, we sent everyone home with an assignment: to come back next week with 5-10 snapshots of their spiritual life story/testimony.
- Remember, I'm an external processor. As Rachel and I were discussing how we were going to "lead" the evening of testimonies, we each had different ideas of how it should turn out. In the end, we realized I am really good at telling my story, not so good at listening. She is really great at listening and asking insightful questions, not so good at articulating her story. In conclusion, we're going to confess this to the group tonight in an effort to encourage those of us who are great storytellers to share the lime-light and to relieve the pressure from the listeners who won't want to be in light for very long.
- It's amazing how God brought Rachel and I together, for many perfect reasons.
- Theater Entrepreneurial Initiatives
- As many of you know, I've been reading about entrepreneurship and small business/non-profits. In spite of learning many new things to consider, and writing them all down in a digital Google Notebook, there's been a missing piece to my forward progress. I need to get it off the page, via my mouth and behavior.
- As a result, I've met with two non-profit directors, Josh Wilson of Mission STL, and James McAnally of the Luminary Center for the Arts. Both were very encouraging of my dreams and both grounded me with practical next steps. It was very helpful to hear myself "cast vision" for outsiders. Through this exercise I heard myself admit things that, in my mind, I wasn't sure I was willing to admit. I kept circling back to certain concepts and ideas; ideas that might not have ever received much of my attention before I realized how important they truly are to me.
- Those ideas were (in order): Theater Arts, Leadership, Education, Enrichment, Storytelling for outward influence (mission) rather than inward stardom (pride).
Please continue to pray for me, and my mouth. That I might not speak/think of myself more highly than I ought (Romans 12).
Thank you for your support.
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