You have most likely heard about the recent death of the best-selling Christian author and influencer Rachel Held Evans. I followed her on Twitter and always admired her brave voice, especially in her advocacy for the marginalized and the way she challenged the status quo of Christianity. She made those of us who are doubters and seekers feel not so alone or embittered. However, it wasn’t until her sudden death at the age of 37 that made me pay attention. I hope this blog post helps you do this too. Even in death, Rachel Held Evans is someone who has things to teach us. And please don’t let the Christian descriptor tune you out. She was an advocate for all.
“Instead of fighting for a seat at the evangelical table, I want to prepare tables in the wilderness, where everyone is welcome and where we can go on discussing (and debating!) the Bible, science, sexuality, gender, racial reconciliation, justice, church, and faith, but without labels, without wars,” said Rachel Held Evans.
So incredible was her influence the becauseofRHE hashtag trended globally on Twitter. People giving witness to how she changed their lives, encouraged questioning to help people find their faith…and heal. Some have called her polarizing, but I call her authentic and brave. Like many others, her life and death inspired me to take action. This week I addressed concerns I’ve been grappling with for a long time with my parish priest. She showed us that we all have a voice that is worthy of being heard. Yes, we are all worthy even though we are “a frightening mix of good and evil, sinner and saint.”
In this season of graduations (my son being one), Rachel’s post, “Let the World Change You: A Commencement Address Do-Over” hit me powerfully. Her message is that before you go out and change the world, learn from it first.
She writes, “I thought the world needed my answers, but as it turns out, I needed the world’s questions.”
She invites us to humble ourselves, be aware of the energy we exert resisting, and let others teach, heal, love, challenge and forgive us. Let’s just be fully human…perfectly imperfect.
In the words of Rachel, here’s to being open, able to disagree with grace, grieve, heal, create, and rally together to do justice and love mercy—not just with our words, but with our actions. Where everyone is welcome, so long as it is approached with peace.
Oh, what we can learn from you, dear sister. Thank you for making us think. Thank you for telling us that we are not alone. That we belong. Thank you for encouraging so many.
