Merry Christmas to all, see you in January!
Merry Christmas!
Category: Life
Putting Your Reputation on the Line
Earlier this month I read a post in the Daily Dish, Andrew Sullivan’s blog at The Atlantic, about a megachurch pastor in Georgia, Jim Swilley, who decided to publicly come out of the closet. He felt compelled to do so after hearing too many stories about gay teens committing suicide after harassment by bullies.
“As a father, thinking about your 16-, 17-year-old killing themselves, I thought somebody needed to say something,” he told WSB TV in Atlanta. “I know all the hateful stuff that’s being written about me online, whatever. To think about saving a teenager, yeah, I’ll risk my reputation for that.”
This man is a hero. I can’t imagine the courage it must take for anyone to come out when those around them don’t approve of their lifestyle. A lifestyle, Swilley reminds us, that is not a choice. But imagine doing that when you’re the pastor of a conservative church and your career and livelihood is on the line.
It made me think about what I would risk to do the right thing. Would I be brave enough to risk my reputation and career? I won’t know until I’m in that position. I can only hope that I’m as strong as he is. I’m not assuming I will be although I think I have a strong metaphorical spine. I think about whistleblowers who don’t even know Sarbanes-Oxley protection exists, yet put their jobs on the line to do the right thing, as Jim Swilley did by blowing the whistle on irrational hatred.
How much would your organization put on the line to do the right thing? How many people (members or even board members) are you willing to piss off? How many opportunities do you miss to be a hero because you worry about the risk to your brand or about the risk of failure?
Thankful: Channeling Virginia Woolf
“As you sit down with your loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, what is one thing you’ll be especially thankful for?”
Only one thing? But there are so many things I’m thankful for. As I think about that I lean back into my chair and glance around the room. My eyes settle on the red, orange and yellow leaves of the trees outside the window. It’s so pretty this time of year. I’m thankful for that, no, I can only pick one thing, it’s not going to be the foliage.
The house is quiet, except for the cat purring on the couch in my office, next to a few books I’m in the midst of reading. The music plays softly on the radio. The dog is dreaming. Asleep on the rug between my desk and the couch, his paws are running in place.
I love having this room. It’s an extra room, formerly a bedroom, now my office. My books surround me. A TV’s on a dresser in case I get the urge for a cooking show. I can curl up on the couch with a cup of tea or coffee and read, or I can sit at my desk and write. The strong wireless signal connects me to news and information, but more importantly to friends and not-yet-friends, or, channeling Fritz Maytag here, friends in fermentation.
I’m thankful for a room of my own. Virginia Woolf would be pleased. This room is my office, my study, my lounge, my yoga studio (if I’m practicing) and my sanctuary. It grounds me and brings me peace. It’s the symbol, or evidence, of the things in my life that I’m really thankful for – the reasons I’m able to have a room of my own.
- My guy, the reason I’m here in North Carolina and the reason I glow
- My wonderful life here in NC and the people who are part of it — my NC family and friends
- My family’s love and support for whatever I do, however far away I am
- My Georgetown education that started me on a path of learning and success and introduced me to lifelong friends
- My career path and the dear friends and interesting experiences it gave me along the way
- My last job and the savings it provided that helped me transition into this new freelance life
- My online and real life communities who inspire me and make me laugh
- My work that allows me to do what I love, teaches me something every day and pays the bills
- My freedom to live the way I do, to have this room of my own. I know I am blessed.
I’m thankful for many other things, especially that I woke up this morning, happy to face another day. That’s the easiest one to take for granted.
I recently read about making a list each night of five things you’re thankful for. I wish I remembered where I read this – was it your blog or book? It’s an easy thing to do and I bet it’d help us have sweeter dreams too.
What are you thankful for today? Share some gratitude. Let’s make the world spin happily around.
“Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
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