I recently returned from a hike-turned-make-a-new-friend at Randor Lake. The weather is perfect today with sunny skies, a few clouds, and a high of 63 in Nashville, Tennessee. My friend, David, joined me and brought two new friends, Steven and Sharon. Before I knew it, I was at my usual pace–which is rather brisk, but normal for me. After around twenty minutes into our hike, things changed and I decided to get to know Sharon rather than speed-hike with the guys. To be honest, I was excited to be out in the wonderful weather, surrounded by falling and already fallen leaves with the lake nearby, but I became even more excited about investing a few hours into forming a new friendship with Sharon, a woman I had not known a half an hour beforehand.
Sharon and I quickly found out that while we are in different chapters in our lives, we also have a medley of similar thoughts and perspectives. It was quite enjoyable to get to know her and her openness and vulnerability with me encouraged me to do the same. We sat at a bench near the water and talked for quite a while. Later, we went to Trader Joe’s(c) and Whole Foods(c)–where my quirky side jumped out and I asked a manager if I could help paint the Christmas decorations on the store’s windows (not the “best” first impression, I know.)
One of the many topics we discussed was our mutual feeling of inadequacy. For me, I am painfully aware of being inadequate when I am in the ‘thick of things’ for some of my projects and occasionally, when I am a part of ministry activities. The thing is, when all is said and done, I doubt myself more than I tend to let on (to the general public, but also to my friends–but I know that they can see through this façade of mine.)
This is a relief to me, because I know what category I fall into.
