October 15, 2109
(John) Phillip Newell, declares that there is a deep wisdom we are born knowing…but we quickly forget it as we grow accustomed to the world in which we live. We are born knowing our deepest, earliest identity as God’s Beloved…and sometimes we forget this identity so quickly in life, it’s like we never knew it at all.
Whether it is the media, our past, our relationships with others, our race, our gender, our lack of vulnerability, I know like most of you, find myself often thinking am I good enough? Can I possibly do this next thing? Can am I successful enough? Strong enough? Can I possibly make a difference? And on and on.
Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” I would add to his quote if I could, “You are Enough.”
Arthur Ashe had to overcome racial prejudice and injustice on his quest to be the first African-American tennis player selected to the United States David Cup team and the only one to ever win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open or the Australian Open.
After a heart bypass, Arthur contracted HIV and despite facing public scrutiny at the time when little was known about HIV/AIDs, he raised awareness and helped those affected by the disease. Ashe also fought for civil rights and many other causes.
Arthur Ashe believed he was enough and his legacy is that no matter the color of your skin, no matter where you are in life, no matter what difficulties you face, you always are enough and you have enough inside of you to use what you have and do what you can to make a difference in the world.
We are God’s beloved. It is our identity. We are enough because we have been created by a holy God whose will for us is what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Day by day the world tells us all the reasons we can’t and we aren’t enough. Let us renew our minds and shut out what the world says. Start today wherever you are. Use what you have. You are enough. You can make a difference in the world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Julie Robinson, Executive Director Studio 222
