Reflection on Summit Day 1

Did I mention the Summit started off with Willow Creek's music team singing Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons? Awesome. The singing in between certain speakers and breaks was a little cheesy, but the speakers are what I went to hear.

Jon and I went to the Summit because we felt God had us in different situations where we could learn and use expertise from other leaders. Little did we know the impact it would have on us.

I had never heard Bill Hybels speak nor had never read any of his books but he was great to listen to. He started out with an introduction and went in to being challenged. Sometimes I think I'm not challenged enough because I stay at home. I'm not saying taking care of a kid is not challenging. It is. I'm saying growing as an adult, a servant of Christ, growing in my maturity as a person, in my behavior and thoughts is what I was looking for. Maybe some of you can argue this can happen at home, and I won't dismiss that at all. You don't learn the same things from your child as you would from a pastor or leader. It was a good reminder for me to continue growing as a person outside of being a mother to be a good example to our kids. I also fall in to the category of not forcing myself to be challenged. It's easy to slink away from challenges by just staying at home.

I was excited to hear Len Schlesinger talk about taking action. I get weary listening to others, and sometimes myself, about how they're going to do something, but they never follow through. Or perhaps they complain about something but aren't willing to take steps to make changes. We have the gift of being able to take action. How often do we as a society say "we'll believe it when we see it"? We don't believe things until we see the actions someone has taken to make it true. Why are Christians in particular so apathetic to taking action? Why do we sit and worry and fret about how things will happen in the future? We do have control over some of it. God wants us to take action in most situations, so where are we? If our God is for us then who could ever stop us? If our God is with us, then what could stand against us? Why are we so scared? Take action, even if it's baby steps.  I liked when Schlesinger said if you can't predict the future, then act and create it! Finally, he said to bring other people with you. I can think of a myriad of reasons why we should be creating a future with others. We should be acting together to be a support, to be a well-spring of ideas, to provide strength, accountability to one another. I'm ready to take action and I pray for each person I know, that if God provides opportunities to act you will trust him and take a step. "If all you do is think, you are less interesting as a person!" Get off your duffs and do something!

Listening to Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey was more inspiring than full of wisdom. Sure he had some great ideas and tidbits of wisdom he passed along. What was most interesting to me was the mountains of crime, poverty, and overall bad attitudes he faced going in to his position. All of which he has chiseled to mole hills. I'm sure he doesn't feel this way but his actions and results speak of it. His story left me feeling like ordinary people can make a huge difference. He is making a huge difference and I pray God continues to drive him in a direction to love the people of Newark. Another great reason we should be praying for our political leaders.

Next up was Brenda Salter McNeil. She was a great speaker and had wonderful things to say. I didn't connect as much with her session as I did with the others. However, the one key idea I remember and feel inspired by was, "experience catalytic events with eyes of faith, not fear." Catalytic events will happen, they have happened to me and how I choose to honor God during those times is what brings me to today. I choose to use catalytic events to move me in my relationship with God so I can be closer to him. What are you going to do with the catalytic events God puts in your life? Will you stay stuck or will you move forward?

Seth Godin, again perhaps one of my favorite speakers, opened my eyes to failure. What was interesting was in his list of accomplishments and titles it stated, "As an entrepreneur, he has founded dozens of companies, most of which have failed." Well duh, Cara, that's what entrepreneurs do. Yes, but rarely are failures talked about. It seems like such a taboo topic in general. People work so hard to be perfect and have only success, but it's not realistic.  I know I'm not perfect, but I don't want to be known as a failure. Why are we so afraid to talk about failures? They are learning opportunities. I think what was so great was some of the speakers talks were easily connected. Failure, action, vulnerability, and humility. They all work together. What a dynamic person to have all of those on your personal resume. I've struggled a lot with failure this year. I've allowed it to beat me down and make me feel like I'm not worthy of God's blessing because I failed at reaching people for him. So I was stopped in my tracks when I heard Godin speaking of how failure is not a big deal. It happens so move on. Do something else. Failure shouldn't stop us from doing what God wants us to do. How many "great" people have had failure upon failure? In fact how many people have started companies or created an invention that just bombed. They may have gone down a different road afterward but did that end their searching for opportunities? I wonder. this is especially helpful in my writing. I often feel like I'm not getting any better. I read books and while I know "great" authors such as J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) are denied by several publishers before finding one who believe in their stories, it still somehow seems like they have something I don't. I don't want Satan to be able to use failure against me so I want to change my response to my failures and keep trying. God has something in store for me and I will continue to seek that out.