A Vulnerable Friday Five

Vulnerability Friday 5

Sally said:
It seems almost crass to post a Friday 5 after Mary-Beth's last post and prayer request for our dear Gannet Girl and her family. So I hope that folk will take this in the spirit with which it is offered; that of continuing prayer and concern tempered by the knowledge that we are called both to weep and to rejoice with our communities.

I have recently been reading a book entitled Jesus wept, it is all about vulnerability in leadership. The authors speak of how Jesus shared his earthly frustrations and vulnerabilities with a select group of people. To some he was the charismatic leader and teacher, to others words of wisdom were opened and explained and some frustrations shared, to his "inner circle of friends: Peter, James and John, he was most fully himself, and in all of these things he was open to God.

So I bring you this weeks Friday 5:

1. Is vulnerability something that comes easily to you, or are you a private person?
I am such a private person and very much an introvert. Opening up to other people is a process learned overy many years of therapy and then the work that I have chosen-counterintuitive to my nature.

Another thing, depression is something that I have had to fight at times. When I feel myself getting too vulnerable if sometimes feels like I'm slipping into depression...

2.How important is it to keep up a professional persona in work/ ministry?
It's very important to keep a professional persona at work. When I let the personal get through, it's through humor-the mask that has served me well for years. I work with the client/consumers who are my counselors problems, so I have to maintain professionalism in the face of others vulnerability and other behaviors sometimes too bizarre to mention-like this week. Don't ask...

3. Masks, a form of self protection discuss...
Ok, literally speaking and not in the Jungian sense, you heard it before, I worked in the theatre for a number of years, in college then after. I tried the acting part-but never could remember my lines. I did theatre design. But- I  also did puppetry and live puppets where the human dons a puppet like costume and then I could act. My mask.

4. Who knows you warts and all?
First my therapist, as she knew me before BL and saw me through some pretty difficult times. Then Beloved, who is my mate for life and does see me now warts and all.

5. Share a book, a prayer, a piece of music, a poem or a person that touches the deep place in your soul, and calls you to be who you are most authentically.
The work of artist Louise Nevelson. to be posted later when I'm home. And, of course, BL