Ten years ago I stood on the shore of this lake and photographed the chapel at Glorieta for the first time.
I was serving my first term as president of our local PWOC. I was nervous and felt completely out of place. This was my first time serving as a leader of anything, let alone a group of hard core Christian ladies.
Standing at that lakeside I felt completely under qualified. In my mind a president was poised, polished and a classy dresser. I am naturally wind blown. The only time I spend poised is right before I take a dive off the edge into unknown waters. I rarely bother buying clothes and if I do they are almost always ‘post consumer’ and I never pick anything that needs to be ironed. I was definitely in over my head.
Ten years later I found myself standing on the same shore reflecting on my last decade. Not only did I survive that first year as a leader, but I went on to serve for 3 more years in 2 states. I never did master the art of being polished and poised, but what I did learn is it doesn’t matter. As long as I stayed humble and did my best everything was awesome. Anytime my ego started telling me that I was awesome everything fell apart.
The end of an era, this will be the last of my fall trips to Glorieta. The facilities are moving to a summer only operational status and the annual autumn retreat here will soon be a thing of the past. I can’t be sad tho; the end of one thing is the beginning of another. Life is a cycle of change and the unceasing movement keeps us from getting stagnant.
Coming to Glorieta is always a bit risky. You enter these gates with the understanding that you will be changed when you leave. I’m looking forward to seeing what the weekend brings.
I seriously think you should become a motivational speaker. I get something out of all of your blogs whether you are talking about something fun or serious or interesting. I’m glad to have met you! :)
Lovely picture and reflections. I don’t suppose you can be anyone but yourself and that’s enough equipment for the job, I think.