Showing Up as Myself

Three women…

Gemma Hunt is an experienced TV presenter, used to being in the public eye. Writing in Premier Christianity she describes a morning visit to the gym alone, no responsibilities to others, no image to maintain, no expectations to live up to.

Gemma describes the Biblical principle ‘of stillness, of retreat, of intentional withdrawal’ she continues: ‘And so, for that hour in the gym, I let myself off the hook. I didn’t strive to be the friend, the encourager, the shining example. I simply showed up as myself. And in doing so I felt closer to God, not further away.’

Megan Boxall, from Thorpeness, Suffolk, was on TV. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she’s run Britain’s entire coastline around England, Scotland and Wales, setting off from Sizewell beach on 18^th October, returning on 9^th May,

Megan ran 5,240-miles (8,433km)– 200 marathons – in 204 days… raised £57,000 for the Samaritans charity, which helped her with her mental health after her diagnosis… became the fastest woman to run the coastline of Britain.

Showing up as herself, Megan said: ‘This has shown… how much good can come from being positive and seeing the best in people and seeing the best in the world.’

Esther was an young, orphaned immigrant Jewish girl in Persia. I read about her this morning. Brought up by her cousin Mordecai, she’s unknown, an apparent nobody.

King Ahasuerus dismisses his wife and searches for a replacement by organising a beauty competition. Esther shows up as herself, and through a series of unpredictable events becomes his favourite wife and queen of Persia…

Three women…

Very different situations, challenges, priorities… They show up at the gym, on the beach, in the palace… They are themselves, stepping back from others and withdrawing, stepping up to the challenge with determination, stepping out in faith to an unknown future… looking inward, looking outward, looking upward.

And I reflect on how I shall show up as myself today.