“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed,
for God is with you wherever you go.”
—Joshua 1:9Dear friends,
Anyone like country music? A number of years ago, the Dixie Chicks (now just The Chicks) were one of the most successful female bands in history. These three very young women were at the top of the charts. They also had been completely taken advantage of by their recording company, Sony, until they found the courage to declare themselves free agents.
Then, just before the United States invaded Iraq, the group’s lead singer made an off-hand comment at a London concert and the world came crashing down on these three. They were called unpatriotic and banned by country music radio stations around the country. They were vilified by conservative radio talk show hosts, their CDs were burned, and they actually received death threats.
They left their touring for two years to focus on their families and children and returned with a very personal CD of songs all written since that fateful “incident” in London. Now they are back on the road—stronger, wiser perhaps, and singing songs about the experience, their children, and even their painful struggle with infertility.
It’s not my intention to agree or disagree with the politics this group, but I am intrigued by their story. They make great music, but better still, theirs is an inspiring story of learning to find your own voice, of making mistakes, and finding the courage to pull yourself up when you stumble, to learn and grow, and to make a difference with a deeper grounding in your values.
This month we’ll be sharing all kinds of stories of courage as we return to outdoor worship. Christian Explorers will be gathering on the pray ground and the herb garden, joining us in exploring God’s call to us in these unsettling times. Together, we’ll invite the Spirit’s power breath into our very souls so that we, too, can write our own stories of faith and courage.
Blessings for June,
Karen Nell