For most of us, the World Race is lived in co-ed community. (Because of numbers, our squad does have two all-women teams.) It's been such a cool experience to walk alongside the men on my two teams. They have encouraged me, spoken into my true identity, protected me and shown me what it means to be loved by a man as a sister. Some of my most valuable lessons on the race have been delivered through these men.
Dave, Dan, Nate and Mickey: I love you dearly. Thank you for being godly men who demonstrate the love of Jesus to me minute by minute. You are men of honor, sacrifice, love and life. I am so blessed to call you my brothers.
As cool as it's been to do life with these men, this month offers us something different. Something valuable. Something sweet. Something annointed. Something necessary.
Malaysia offers us a chance to do life and ministry with only women. Otherwise known as:
womanistry.
This month our squad is split into men and women. The men are off in the jungle somewhere doing manly things, and we women are separeated into four teams in two different cities. We are stepping into the experience of living together, doing ministry together, worshiping together, and learning and growing together as sisters in Christ. For those of us who have only been on co-ed teams during the race, it's definitely a new experience. But it's so good!
The two all women teams doing ministry in Penang
This month is also different for me in another way. While we were in Cambodia my squad leaders asked if I would lead one of the all women teams this month. I accepted, and so I've been getting my heart and mind ready to step into this new position of leadership. I've been beside myself with excitement as this month approached. I've been so anxious to do life with the women on my team! But as my team and I sat in our bedroom the first night talking about our hopes and visions for the month I heard this sentiment multiple times:
"This month is important because I want to learn to connect with women better. I don't have a lot of female friends and I just have never enjoyed being around a bunch of girls."
The expressions of the statement varied, but the root was the same:
I find it hard to connect with women.
A couple of days later I was talking with one of my teammates about this and asked her why she thought this was a difficulty for her and others on our team. Her response made my heart sink:
"Girls are just mean."
It's true isn't it? Isn't that the picture our society has accepted as truth about women? Women are:
catty
dramatic
high maintenance
backstabbing
bitchy
cunning
And somewhere along the way, even WE as women have bought into this mindset. We've accepted it as truth that other women are not to be trusted. That we're not safe in those relationships. That women can't do life together without high drama.
Enough!!!
What society tells us about women is a lie.
It just is.
It's only when we believe the lie that it starts to become true.
So I'm standing and saying that I will choose to speak truth about women. Truth about who we were created to be. Truth about how the Father sees us. Truth about what's in our hearts, even if sometimes we don't see it in ourselves yet.
So fellow womankind, listen up. Here's what your Father in heaven says about you:
You are precious.
You are worth far more than rubies.
You hold dignity.
You are majestic.
You are strong.
You are noble.
You are beautiful.
You are beloved.
You are delightful.
You have a voice.
You have the power to bring life.
Women, there is something about us that other women need.
And the world needs it too.
And that's why this month is so exciting for me. I get to spend time with and walk alongside one of the Lord's most beautiful creations: womankind.
For my team and I this is going to be a month full of speaking life into each other. Of choosing each other. Of preferring each other. Of honoring each other. Of pressing in to each other. Of saying yes to who we are as women. Of true femininity. And it's going to be good.
Kelly, Rachel, Kat, Taralah, Jaime, Courtney and Laura, you are deeply loved.
Here's to women.
Here's to womanistry.
