Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
Amen.
-Lynne Hybels
In a conversation with two friends yesterday, one of them brought up something I can't move past. She said she wanted to be a leader worth following, a leader others would actually follow. As we talked a bit more, I realized I have put very little intentional effort into the way I lead others. As an RD, a mentor, a small group leader, an aunt, whatever, I often find myself in positions of leadership. I feel privileged to be there, but after this recent conversation, I feel a bit guilty about my lax approach. Am I leading in a way that others see as worthy of following?
I don't want to ask this question with the goal of gaining more followers. I want to be more intentional in leadership because I want to be responsible with the influence I have, especially in this role as RD. Whether I like it or not, I am watched. And mostly, I like it. I love living in a dorm with 100+ girls, seeing them walk by our apartment and chatting with them about their lives. It is a privilege, and it's one I know I won't always have. I love talking with these young women - from small talk to discussions about theology, it is opportunity. So with this realization of an opportunity to lead well or lead passively, I find myself seeking out wisdom for how to be someone worth following.
I came across this prayer, and I immediately loved it. I read each line, nodding along in joyful agreement. Yes, let us be these women. Let us be full of strength and conviction, as well as gentleness and compassion. I often see two extremes for what the "Godly woman" should look like. On one hand, you have the more conventional, often seen as traditional, woman. She is all sweetness, gentleness, and hospitality. Everything a good pastor's wife should be. And on the other hand, you have the bold, unapologetic woman who wants to slap stereotypes in the face and speaks of God's desire to redeem the picture of womanhood. Neither extreme is bad in itself, but when we make one or the other the spiritual expectation, we can miss out on God's beautiful diversity within the women he's created.
So I read Hybel's words here, and I am encouraged. As an RD, a leader in this dorm and on this campus, I want to lead the young women with these passions. Let me be one who seeks to grow and be alive in Christ. Let them follow the reflection of his presence within me. May they see me love others and respond in compassion when people are hurting. May they see me as their advocate and support. Grow my capacity for joy - let me choose contentment when it feels far away. Let there be real goodness, your goodness, in me. And let me be passionate in convictions, but gentle in my approach.
Most of all, let me be a woman who seeks you through prayer and time in your presence. Let me love your Word, consuming it daily and making it part of me. When teaching comes out of my mouth, let it be your truth and not my own jumbled thoughts. These girls need your leadership, Father. Please let me be a part of directing them toward you.
All women, all people for that matter, have an opportunity to lead in a way worth following. As I speak now to women and lead them on a daily basis, my prayer is that we would be these kind of dangerous beings. Let us not waver in trust or conviction or passion or gentleness. Let us be women who are dangerous because we can be used by the Father. When he works and speaks and we listen and obey, only good can come. We are here for him, but we are also here for others. We may be leading dorms, offices, classrooms, creative teams, children, younger siblings, etc. Whoever and wherever we lead, let us do so to model the way of Jesus and along the way, let us become people worth following.