(Awe) inspired

My chosen profession, the community organizing part, affords me the privilege of getting to know people on a deep level.

I often start conversations by asking someone's background, what brought them to their professional or personal place in life, what drives them.

The answers are various, often profound, as often as not, the just decided it was time to follow their dreams, start a second or third career, or get involved in their communities because of an experience that impacted them.

My current organizing project primarily involves clergy members, and I am having a blast! I have never been so glad that I paid attention in Sunday School, Hebrew School, Jewish summer camp, and in my Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies courses. We have meaningful conversations about the nature of community, of faith, of clergy impact, of social justice, and of leadership. We also talk politics.

Some of you may know me from way, way back. Back when I used to refuse to sing in the Bearden Middle School Christmas concert because it had the word Christmas in it and we were singing Christmas carols in a public school. Or, when I protested the carol-ringing gigantic wreath hanging in Bearden High School, or drove off the youth pastors who decided it was a good idea to invite the Jewish girl to bible study during the week of Passover (my response, "No thank you. Would you like some matzah? Oh, and you need to leave school grounds if you have not checked in with the principal's office...and you cannot evangelize on school property, you are not a student. I'm sure you're a lovely person, but please leave or I will report you.").

I have no problem with churches or the state. I do have a problem with public institutions getting religious, and it seems like that is happening more and more.

I am truly in awe of the clergy members I get to speak and work with. They inspire me to learn more, to focus on things outside of myself, to look at the world through a lens of compassion, patience and respect. I enjoy our philosophical and spiritual conversations and wish I could carry the feeling of calm I feel with them into every interaction I have.

Pretty sure you're going to be inspired by them soon, too.