Much-ness

I was recently in a Scripture Circle, where we begin by saying our name, where our feet are planted, and what we have been contemplating with God. Suddenly, the words coming out of my mouth were about taking up my space fully. 

​It may be hard to take up my space fully because of all the cultural messages handed down to women about leadership and how we are to show up in the world. Perhaps it is the internalization of the message that Christians should be “nice” and that we should put others before ourselves. Whatever combination of these beliefs may be, it prevented me from living fully. 

When I diminish who I am or try to hide behind others, I am not living into my much-ness. When I sit on my hands and keep silent, when I feel the Spirit prompting me to lead, I am not loving God with my much-ness. When I allow the culture of the Church and society to define who I am more than God, I am not living out of my much-ness, which was created and blessed by God. 

What would it look like if we all took up our space - not the space of others - but our own space? What could happen if we live out of who we are created to be fully? What might the Spirit be doing in and through us, people of God?