I’ve heard it said, “Everyday do something that scares you.” . . .Or maybe I saw it on a cat poster. . . Where ever I came by it, it’s generally good advice, though I think the frequency is overstated.
And what is scarier than public speaking? Jerry Seinfeld once made the joke that public speaking was most people’s number one fear, followed by death. That means most of us, we’d rather be the one in the casket than the one giving the eulogy.
That sounds exactly how I would rank my fears. But when a very lovely, welcoming church invited me to speak, I was so honored, I had to accept. That meant overcoming that fear, or, more to my temperament, ignoring that fear and pretending it doesn’t exist.
And so, last week, I did that thing that scares me and spoke in front of people. The title of my talk was “Moving From the Wound Towards a Religious Vitality,” and I drew on my childhood experience as a strict Seventh-day Adventist to how religions can wound and also how they can play a vital role in our world.
I wish this was a story where I pulled it off flawlessly and discovered a new hidden talent. I was however, flawed, very flawed. I was tongue tied, stumbled over words, and, at the end, got flustered and lost my thread. And yet, I spoke with people afterwards who expressed appreciation for my message. As I said, they were a lovely community.
After I spoke, the reverend invited me to stand next to him and pass out the communion bread. As each person came forward for communion, the reverend introduced me. I have had communion in a number of denominations, but this may have been one of the most unique spins on it. There was such an intimate, personal feel to it. A friend and longtime member of the church said, “Have you ever been to a communion that feels like a receiving line?”
I took a few days off from doing things that scare me, but, in keeping with the practice, I am posting the service here. I’m going to give myself a bit more time, but the next scary thing I’m going to do is watch the video.
Vegetarian Ranchwife 