We just finished facilitating our first Financial Peace class. We’ve taken it 3 times before this and have learned so many new things with every class. Simply because we are farther along in that financial journey. As we finished our last session we asked our group what we could do better, or differently the next time we lead this class. One over-riding message that came through was that we clung to the labels Dave uses to part us into our natural roles when it comes to budgeting. Free-spirits and nerds. I’m not going into who does what in this post because I want to concentrate on the labels and how we sometimes get caught up living under them versus turning them into something that can work for us.
I’ve had to deal with several labels pinned on me over the years. Especially with all the temperament and giftings tests I’ve taken while working and serving in the church. Each time I take one, the results are the same. I’m a task driven, people loving, hard on the outside and mush on the inside person. I love systems and I love to be creative. I equal out in two different ditches making it very easy to adapt to who I’m talking to. However it’s raised many eyebrows to those that have a well defined box to live in.
As a kid I chose to be different than my family. And I caught the backlash from it. I knew I wanted to do and be someone different than what I was experiencing. I didn’t understand that drive within me then but as I grew older and started taking bigger risks to start my own legacy I got a few labels thrown at me. Basically as I chose to live at a higher standard it magnified the lack of standards in others and you know how the story goes. I just chose to allow the pain to drive me forward rather than break me.
Labels can hurt but they can also illuminate blind spots. I use labels to help identify the pitfalls of my temperament as well as my strengths. I use them to give my kids handles as they learn to communicate to each other. Never though do I allow us to get stuck under a label. They are merely tools to assist in our awareness of ourselves and those around us. They are subjective. As I’ve learned to live as God has called me to be rather than what the labels say I am, I can walk out my destiny with freedom and joy.
Free spirit or nerd? I don’t care really. I just know budgeting is not my strength so I have some of the most creative envelopes in place that set me up to win. I love to make anything a party while working hard. And no matter what I am required to be a responsible, loving adult that reflects the image of my God.
charity
May 21, 2011
love it, Jen!!! LOVE it!!