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June 17, 2010
The Mirror Mirage
Nicole Massie is a participant in FTE's Project Rising Sun: A Leadership Academy for Young Pastors. She is serving as a roundtable leader for the 2010 FTE Leaders in Ministry Conference.
Over the years, I’ve developed a nagging habit of trying to find people who look like me. It’s most likely a function of being the minority in most circles, but as I get older, I recognize the challenges this brings. As I got off the plane from Charlotte to Boston today and made my way toward the FTE Leaders sign, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me at the sight of something familiar. Yet, when I gathered in the waiting place with those I assumed to be other leaders, I looked and saw that no one looked like me. When we boarded the bus and picked up other students from other terminals, I watched as person after person took their seat and found my childhood voice asking, “who will be my friend?” Yet, just as that fear was beginning to take root and anxiety began to approach the victory line of my mind, a voice came from the seat next to me saying, “Hey! My name is Rachel, what’s yours?” Apprehensive at the thought of conversation beyond the warfare of my thoughts, I stuck out my hand and responded, “I’m Nicole. It’s good to meet you.” When the words came out of my mouth, I realized what a relief it was to have someone reach out to me in the midst of my anxieties. While I initially struggled with my desire to find someone that looked like me, I could not deny how grateful I was for Rachel who broke out of her comfort zone to enter my world.
As our small talk turned into the ebb and flow of meaningful conversation and welcomed periods of silence, I remembered the amazing relevance of our conference theme: “The Creative Encounter: Discovering Our Common Story for the Church and the World.” As I listened to Rachel’s story, I silently repented for overlooking someone with whom I had so much in common simply because I thought she didn’t look like me. We did not share the same denomination, we were not the same age, we did not live in the same state and we didn’t even attend the same schools. But I learned in those short, yet purposeful moments that Rachel and I still shared common stories. We both nurtured hopes and dreams for the church just as parents nurture dreams of success for their children. As I listened to her passion for people, her love of God, and her desire for ministerial development, I could not help but whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to the God who weaves the multitude of believers into this amazing tapestry we call “The Body of Christ.”
If I, as a pastoral leader, am not willing to go beyond those who look like me, what future awaits the church of tomorrow? May God give us the strength to relinquish the right to look for those who look like us in exchange for the privilege of seeing those who look like God.
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