I once had a professor who referred to anyone who worked towards justice as an "agent of change". Back then, in college, it sounded so romantic, so intriguing, so full of possibilities. It is a phrase that still calls me back to myself when "doing justice" loses its romance, even if only temporarily. The romance of doing justice can fade for many reasons, but the one this series has focused on is busy-ness. For a couple weeks we have listened  to successful women share how they stay connected to God in busy ministry seasons. Today, we have with us Robyn Afrik- wife, mom, and very busy entrepreneur for the sake of the Kingdom. Every time I encounter Robyn, despite a busy schedule, she is fully present with those around her. How does she do it? Keep reading! I introduce to you, Robyn! 

Hi friends,

It is so good to be walking with you in your season of ministry! Glad to know you are being called to the front lines of Justice.  For those who may have been doing this for a while or for those who are newly engaged, I cannot stress enough how incredibly important it is to remain spiritually healthy so that you do not become easily disillusioned, distracted or disappointed by what is truly the social witness of ‘change’ in this great battle. 

Even for the individual who has seemingly endless courage, determination, passion and focus, one must work through their understanding from which the source of that ‘power’ is pulled. If the source to become engaged with ‘injustice’ derives from anything less than our strength and dependence on God; i.e. our own hurts, frustration, escape, misplaced pain and or false justifications, we become vulnerable to burn out, temptation and ultimately defeat. 

Spiritual Discipline:

One of the simpler, but more powerful spiritual disciplines I use daily is a primer. 

If you’ve ever painted walls, you may have heard the term primer before.  Primer is a thin layer of paint that goes onto the wall before actually painting it with color.  The function of that primer is to help secure the actual paint to the wall because the condition of the wall may not be in the best shape.  It also protects the coat of paint from wearing out and gives it a healthier and stronger life.

In the ‘ministry’ we are called to, our minds become like those walls. We (will) begin to carry around worries, thoughts, struggles and concerns re: the problems and mounting pressure we encounter; i.e. marginalized voices not being heard, arguments (indirect/direct) with power systems, feeling compromised when we settle for illusions of progress. All of these things pick at our minds like a wall with dings, holes, scrapes and dents. Then, we run to God with all of our burdens, sometimes in tears and when God is ready to put a fresh coat of paint over us, our minds aren’t ready to receive the new perspective he has to give.  

The following discipline is called: “Be Still and Know That I Am God”

Directions:  Find a quiet place (preferably before you begin your day). Sit with out distraction, light a candle (optional) and close your eyes.  Then, the following phrases are to be read aloud (see below) in order and as exactly as they are written.  It is important to pause for a few minutes in-between each phrase and to savor every word as you say them out loud. Hold on to the words in your mind as though they are all you have and think about what the words are literally asking you to do.  Do not rush through this exercise. This is a spiritual discipline that if done too quickly, will not result in the practice of being present. It has helped me prime the mind so that I may RECEIVE whatever God wants to give for my day and helps me remain still long enough to let it take root. 

1. Be still and know that I am God.

2. Be still and know that I AM

3. Be still and know 

4. Be still 

5. Be

Now, (you can) listen from a new place of rest, of perfect peace and a fresh perspective. God is going to give you something that elevates you to a new place of ‘being’ so that all of your ‘doing’ is beyond reaction. 

See you on the field. 

-Robyn Afrik

When Robyn isn’t thinking or talking about race, diversity, identity, justice or God, she is usually out slaying White Elephants who think they’ve escaped the room.  

For more information, Robyn Afrik can be reached at: 

Website: www.afrikadvantage.com

Twittering since tweet #249: @afrikadvantage

Email: afrikadvantage@Gmail.com

Continuing our series on the wisdom of women, here are the words of someone I have found to be inspirational in my life. There are sermons I've heard that have been life-changing for me, words that have stayed with me for years, and Judy Peterson has delivered more than one that I carry with me. 

When asked how she stays connected to God in busy ministry seasons, here is her answer: 

Yesterday morning I got up early to get a workout in before my day began. I chose a path through the woods, and as I was walking, I had the opportunity to watch a mother quail tend to her eggs, and God reminded me how he hides me under his wings (Psalm 91:4). Along the way I stopped to smell several different flowers, and I thought about their short, beautiful, fragrant lives, and God reminded me how much he wants my short life to be beautiful and fragrant too (Psalm 103:15-16). I had the opportunity to rescue a baby fawn that was stuck in a ditch, and as I put its feet back on solid ground, I thanked the Lord that he rescued me from the pit, and he said, “You’re welcome” (Psalm 40:2).

As I continued walking I noticed two small clouds in the sky and thought about Elijah and the tremendous faith that was required to believe that a small cloud could bring a mighty storm. And I prayed that God would increase my faith so that I, too, could believe that all of the small things in my life can be used to bring refreshing to God’s people (1 Kings 18). At the end of my walk I realized that I had never gotten my heart rate up into the target zone, but I was quickly consoled by the truth that my heart was back on target for the day.

Real life is going on all around us and so often we have our heads down, our ears plugged in, our minds usually thinking about something we have no control over and our eyes fixed on a place about six feet in front of us. And all around us our real life is going on mostly without us. I think we walk through life this way because we’re waiting for our real life to begin, looking for our mission on the horizon, hoping that it’s just around the corner. But here’s the deal, this is your real life. Your real life isn’t just around the corner, and it won’t begin after you get the next thing done, and it isn’t just over the horizon…it is right here and right now.

Even this moment is a part of your real life and God doesn’t want you to miss out on your real life while you’re wishing for the life you thought you’d have or wishing for a life you’d like to have or just wishing your life away because you think next week might have something better for you. This is not a dress rehearsal and we can’t come back and do it again.

And so for the past 15 years I have practiced the spiritual discipline of not missing out on my real life. In the midst of a very busy ministry life I remind myself that there is enough time to smell flowers, notice clouds, rescue fawns and do a little bird watching. I do this because I believe it is not a waste of time to be fully present in my real life. In fact, in the midst of my real life God is just waiting to speak into my moments and margins if I will simply stop, unplug, breathe in and listen.

-Judy Peterson-  

Pastor Judy Peterson is the Campus Pastor at North Park University. She spends her life loving God and loving people, drinking coffee, loving her husband and trying not to miss out on a moment of real life. 

If you look at the date from this post to the last, you will not be surprised to know that I have been experiencing an intense ministry season. I knew that a season of long hours and late nights was on the horizon, so I asked a few women that I love and respect, the following question: In busy ministry seasons, what spiritual practices have you developed to keep you connected to God?  

Here is the answer from my former co-worker and continued friend, Krista Dutt.  

First, I should say that I have in no way figured this out, especially as a new mom where I have a new “always on” feeling.  But the new mom gig has reminded me of what I need to do to keep sane.  I think when we get busy, we have been taught to cut things that seem like additional luxuries to us or sometimes in my case I cut things that others might see as “she-doesn’t-need-to-do-that” things.  However, I am learning some of those practices are the very things that keep me going.  I offer the following as my learnings:

1.      Reading:  Soon after Benjamin, my son, was born, I realized that holding a book while nursing was impossible for me.  (It was much easier to watch TV or browse the internet on my phone.)  A few months later, Ben became more interested in the crinkling noise that books made which made it hard to read a book whenever he was around me.  But, without a constant book I felt like I was not complete.  So, instead of giving up, I stopped listening to the radio in the car and turned to audio books.  It has been great!  I feel more me, and have enjoyed listening to books.  Now, I know reading isn’t everyone’s thing – but reading allows me to dream, create new thoughts that may connect to my current life, and be a student of the author.  Audio books are expensive; so check the library or my other source paperbackswap.com which is almost free (you pay to ship the books you are swapping so requesting books is free). 

2.      Take a whole day off:  I have a job that allows me to be flexible in what hours I work.  Its 11:30 at night and I am planning on spending about an hour working on email, but this afternoon I took Benjamin to play for several hours at the park.  I have always been grateful for this type of schedule, but I often think that ministry jobs like this one can lead to more burnout because we can always take some time, but then do we?  I have found that taking a whole day off can really help me.  Since I am easily tempted to check just one thing if I go online or really on my computer, it tends to be a media fast as well.  I find I am more productive the next days when I do this.

3.      Go to church!  I have a ministry job that could be my church; but I have found having a solid place to go that I am Krista, a sinner more than a saint, is hugely important.  I realize that for pastors this safe place might be harder to find – but I urge you to take the time to find it.  Having the place that you are a celebrated, loved child of God more than you are the leader – good or bad has been life saving for me.  I show up; I share; I just am.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Lastly, I have a job I love.  It energizes me; and sometimes I use that as an excuse to do what refreshes me.  I urge you to love what you do but also take care to do other things as well.

-Krista Dutt-  

Krista is a lover of God, Chicago and her family.  She is passionate about people coming together and tries to give the space for them to do so.

 

After ten years of being committed to reconciliation work, I have found that occasionally it is necessary for others to point out the fact that I am young, black and a woman.

Sometimes the words are said with disdain, dripping from the mouths of men who cannot fathom that such a being could possess something so precious, so risky as authority. But usually it is spoken quietly, in hushed tones, as if my brownness might flee in fright if spoken too loudly. It seems that major portions of my identity are tethered to confusion... assumption... and often require deep reflection for others to comprehend, to accept, to enjoy.

I realize that for many white churches, I am the first black woman they have encountered in a ministry director role- the first to lead the class or host the meeting, the first to guide down the streets of Chicago, the first to preach to their kids and the first who was in control of the plan.

This is sometimes hard for me to remember since I grew up around strong, capable, confident, educated, preachin' black women. There are so many of us out there. So, I do not write this to suggest that history books will remember my name because I have been "the first" so many times... I write this in lamentation of all the young, brown-toned women who face confused looks when even small amounts of authority are expressed. I suspect there are many of us who are "the first" as we continue to expand our reach beyond our homogenous church roots.

The confused looks can and will catch us off guard. It does not happen often, but when it does, it is a very jolting experience. After all, only one of the three components will change over time; I shall always be both black and woman. 

In those moments when I wonder if the skin I'm in can penetrate minds, when I question how far I can go, when I wonder if my impact on the world will be limited after all, when I wonder if anyone can hear me- or if they can only see me- I go back to my roots. 

And today, it is Langston Hughes who reminds me of who I am, brown skin and all, in one of the first poems I learned as a child. 

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong. 

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

                                   --Langston Hughes