It’s difficult to break the news to all of us in the pregnancy help community, but someone needs to do so. Honesty, they say, “Is the best policy.” So, let’s at least be honest.
And I know—in advance—what some are already thinking. Because I know what it’s like when someone comes to me and says, “Can I be honest with you?”
When I hear this, I know the next statement will be something I don’t want to hear. One of my (many) flaws will be pointed out, or perhaps something I said might have offended the person in front of me.
My first reaction to these words then—though I won’t say them—is, "No, I don’t want honesty right now! Tell me something untrue so I’ll feel better!"
But before you worry, my “honest” admission for all of us is good. It may even be cathartic. And perhaps it will take the pressure off. So, here goes:
We are ordinary.
That’s it. We’re not necessarily the movers and shakers in this world. And if we are, we’ve set aside our public persona to serve others. We don’t walk into our ministries each morning with a cloak of perfection and omniscience; we come in with humility and deference. Like I said, ordinary.
Why? Because this work is not about us; it’s about those to whom we reach out. You’ll never hear one of our paid or volunteer staff members say, “Do you know who I am?” Or, “Do you know what I’ve accomplished?”
It’s not going to happen, because our mission is to build up and encourage; not to pontificate or share our triumphs.
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We often share our shortcomings and our flaws as we identify with those we see. God uses our transparency and openness to reach those who need someone real with whom they can relate. It’s how we do things.
Contrast this with those who spearheaded the #ExposeFakeClinics campaign last week.
Not to keep harping on this, but the entire campaign was built on falsehood. Groups of women (perhaps men, too—who knows?) jumped online to claim—falsely—they had visited a pregnancy help center.
As if this were not enough, they went on to blab about what goes on inside of our ministries; when in fact, they have no idea.
The Good News? Ordinary people like us don’t have to lie to make a point. We can simply be who we are.
Tweet This: Ordinary people don't have to lie to make a point. We can be who we are. #prolife @KirkWalden
As an old friend told me, “If you don’t lie, you don’t have to remember what you’ve said.” More good news, especially because my memory fails me more than it used to.
We tell the truth. We do so with humility. To take a line from a TV series, “This is Us.”
Our mission? Let’s keep being “us.” Let’s keep our integrity intact. Let’s continue to reach out with transparency and with love. It worked for Jesus, it worked for the ordinary people who followed him—and it still works today.
And that’s good news.
