On Being A Dangerous Woman

With thanks to my friend who shared a prayer on Facebook this week - it's by Lynne Hybels. She's a Pastor's Wife in the USA, and with her husband Bill Hybels, founded the Willow Creek Community Church. Bill wrote the brilliant little book 'Too busy not to pray' which is definitely worth reading [and rereading] Lynn is involved not just in her home church, but in wider 'compassion' ministries, especially those which help women in South Sudan, Iraq, Syria, and the DRC. 

Lynn has said this "A dangerous woman is alive! She knows she is deeply loved by God and grounds herself daily in that love. She delves deeply into the truth about who she is and claims her unique temperament, gifts, passions and dreams. She refuses to let fear stop her as she responds to God’s calling on her life. And out of her fully alive heart, she radically engages with the needs of the world.

I am convinced that women are the greatest untapped resource in the world. We have talents, skills, education, and financial resources that women didn’t dream of in the past. Beyond all this, we have the tremendous power of compassion. How different the world could be if we each responded compassionately to the needs of our sisters—whether they work at the desk next to us or live half way across the world."

Here's that prayer - it is one I would echo in my own heart this morning as I look out at this hurting world...

The Dangerous Women Creed

Dear God, please make us dangerous women.

May we be women who acknowledge our power to change,

and grow, and be radically alive for God.

May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.

May we weep with those who weep

and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.

May we pray deeply and teach wisely.

May we be strong and gentle leaders.

May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.

May we never hesitate to let passion push us,

conviction compel us, 

and righteous anger energize us.

May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.

May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.

May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.

May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.

And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.

Dear God, please make us dangerous women. Amen.