Saying Yes
Introverted. Anxious. Diffident.
You won’t find me lining up to spearhead any rallies, committees, or functions.
When volunteers are needed, I slink away and when cornered, I usually hem and haw and say I’ll do it if nobody else is available. Then I hope and pray someone else raises their hand.
It’s difficult for me to say yes to things. Partly because I am busy enough, and I don’t need anything else on my plate. But if I’m being honest, it’s mainly due to the fact that I’m afraid to screw up. Stepping up and taking control leaves one vulnerable to scrutiny, and even failure. There’s a poster in my school that says “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I guess nobody would want me on their basketball team, because I’m not even getting off the bench.
Lately, I’ve been striving to be more open to saying yes, by taking the same advice I give my students. Instead of asking what’s the worst thing that could come out of this (which often leads to a 6th grader having a mini panic attack in my room), I’ll ask them what is the best thing that could come out of the situation? If you get up and share your project, you might teach someone something new. You might inspire someone to learn about new ideas. You might surprise yourself in how brave you are!
I’m a work in progress, and I still don’t love to be a joiner. But I’m getting better at asking myself, “What’s the best thing that could happen?” At this conference, I might learn how to be stronger in my social justice resolve. As the teacher leader, I might gain new perspectives that help me in my career. I might just surprise myself in how brave I can be.
With a little bit of hesitancy, I’m leaving the bench. I’m taking the ball, and stepping up to the free throw line.
After all, the best thing that might happen isn't that I slam dunk. It's that I discovered God was waiting for me on the other side of yes all along.
Holy One,
Help us to say yes to opportunities that stretch us. Yes to possibilities we can't fully see. Yes to the chance that something good might come from stepping forward. Not because we’re fearless, but because we trust that God can do more with a hesitant yes than we can do with a comfortable no.
Amen
Kelly is a mom, wife, teacher, daughter, sister, and friend.