Shout Out

Here begins the "shout out" portion of my blog...

There are a handful of people in my life that I really "look up" too. I use quotations when I say look up because there has never been a time where I felt like they placed themselves above me. In fact the way that I have seen these women approach any relationship looks more like community- walking alongside people and putting themselves directly on the same level. And since this blog is centered on the concept of love, I thought I would talk about what I love about a few of them.

Beth Staton is probably the smartest person I have ever met. And I don't just love that she knows a lot of stuff (which she does) but instead it's the way she uses that knowledge that gets me. She has the ability to take words on a paper, lofty ideas from very important people and make them come alive. Because there are already enough pompous gas bags who can regurgitate facts in this world. She taught me a lot about the responsibility that I have to not only know my worth as a female in the church, but to work to change a lot of the terrible, oppressive things that are being done against women and minorities because of ignorance. I can remember times when I was overwhelmed and thought my head was going to explode and Beth Staton in all of her wisdom calmed me down and called all of the good things out of me. I really miss her being close.

Tracey Carlson, as my great friend Ashley Liston says, is like the Holy Spirit. I mean if you have ever had a one-on-one encounter with her you would understand this completely. I think the way she loves people is my favorite thing about her. Or it could be that she will never ask you to be vulnerable unless she is willing to be vulnerable herself. I have been involved with Residential Life for 5 years now and, because of Tracey's willingness to ask the important questions and do the hard things to produce positive change, I have seen it become better and better every year. And don't let that lofty title of Director fool you- she is so freaking humble and so much about community that she will even mingle with the lowliest of slackers in RA class.... and six years later listen to that lowly slacker and help her go through the most difficult challenges. I am literally unable to fully describe all of the amazing things about her in one paragraph.

Michelle Steffenhagen. I dont even know how to define her. All I know is that I was terrified when I became an RA that my RD was going to be a jerk. Michelle is literally the last person I would call a jerk. The thing that she has in common with Beth and Tracey is that she has the ability to call the good things about of people, to encourage the heart. Michelle is such an accurate reflection of love and the power of community. I think I've had a million struggles while knowing her but I always know that she will never judge me but instead will ask how she can help. I am not trying to deify her but a lot of the times I feel God's love the most when I'm with her. Michelle is boss. Dont even get me started on her husband, Jason (Papa Ha-sone)


So I ask myself on a regular basis how did I get to know these people? They are all so amazing and I am grateful to them. I hope that I can take the things I have learned from them and use them to create change in others lives and love others as well as they do.