Many people have shared tributes today in honor of the one-year-anniversary of Rachel Held Evans’ death, so I feel almost a little foolish to add to the pile, but sometimes I think about her kids that will Google her someday and find post after post giving tribute to their incredible mom that they will sadly have no memory of, and I think, it’s worth it.
Since being stuck at home for 549 days, I’ve been re-reading some of her work for comfort, for challenge, for inspiration, and so I can pluck out some amazing quotes so my congregation knows I read. I was reading Faith Unraveled (previously called Evolving in Monkey Town) and I openly wept at the end when she gave her acknowledgements to people. What made me so sad was when she thanked her husband, Dan, and made reference to how she was so excited to see what was ahead for them. I wept and was angry that the life they dreamed of together was cut so tragically short. I still don’t understand and it still just isn’t fair.
I keep thinking I’ll someday finish Inspired, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t close that book and know that there will be no new words from Rachel ever again. I just can’t. So I’ll continue to re-read most of it, but never finish it. It’s like how I never watch the last episode of Friends or Parks and Rec (the first time was painful enough for me) so then I can live in denial. I don’t want to accept that her voice is gone. I want to pretend to live in a world where Rachel is still alive.
In Rachel’s book, Searching for Sunday, Glennon Doyle gives the Forward which says this:
“Whenever I want to scare myself, I consider what would happen to the world if Rachel Held Evans stopped writing.”
We are living this and it is scary. It’s hard. It’s tragic. Again, it just isn’t fair.
But as I have been reading tributes from some mega faith giants AND just ordinary people, Rachel gave them the courage to have a voice and I’m so deeply grateful. She may not be writing new words herself, but her influence and her words live on because new people are writing new stuff because of her. She still gets to live on in other people’s work. What an amazing gift to the world and a legacy of such an incredible human being.
I’m also reminded that when you have a voice, use it well. Choose every word carefully. When you’re in a place that influences people and people are “all ears” make what you say matter. May it be kind. May it “do no harm” as us Methodist folk say. The way Rachel engaged with people, even those who criticized her, was none other than grace-filled. Her voice gave power and a voice to so many. Her words were so carefully chosen and beautiful written. We simply won’t have another Rachel ever. She was so unique, special, and beyond her years. I could go on and on about Rachel, but my words will always fall flat to giving an accurate tribute. I’ll leave that to those who personally knew her.
However, I have one last thing to say. Rachel’s voice reminds me that one voice can change someone forever--for good or bad. I give thanks to God for her voice that did so much good and will continue to do so for generations to come.
We miss you, Rachel, but your influence will remain forever.
Hello Raegan and Scott. I am a Pastor from Mumbai India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger nd the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest in teen agers being an Youth Director. Though I am 70 plus yet I do still have interest in teen agers and the youth. In my forties I led three Youth Congresses on South Asia level an even that happens once in four years through church of the Nazarene. In my church which I am Pastoring for last 41yrs in this great city of Mumbai suburb has rased over sixteen full time Ministers and many good christian youth leaders and planted over same number of churches. While being Pastor of the same church for 41 yrs I did gave leadership to the church of the Nazarene in this part as a District Superintendent for 24 yrs. Since you are Associate Youth Director having interest in teenagers I strongly felt that I should get connected with you and Scott. I was supposed to come to Dallas for my nephew's ordination in April 2010 but due to the out break of COVID-19 I had to cancel my trip to the United States. If God willing I happen to come to US in the following year I woud love to meet you and your husband. Our church is involved in the out reach ministry to the poorest of poor people in the slums of Mumbai to reach with the love of Christ to bring haling to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young people from the west irrespective of their denominational back ground to come to Mumbai on a short or long term missions trip to work with us. We would love to have young people from your contacts come to Mumbai to work with us during their vaation time. In the past we have had many individuals also coming to help us in our out reach ministry through Tailoring school, Kindergarten, Health care awareness as well as medical camps and nutrition program from the malnourished children in the slums. I am sure it will be a life changing experience for the young people. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you your family and ministry. Also wishing you a blessed and a Christ centered rest of the year 2020. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.
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