As I have navigated an exceptionally difficult week I am once again so thankful for my faith. In the places of turmoil, in making incredibly difficult, complex decisions, it is my centering in something greater than myself, my connection to a loving God, my awareness of my own finitude, brokenness, and light, that allow me the strength and perspective to meet the challenges and thrive. I feel like I have a secret power source. My faith gives me the will to examine my implicit bias, to hear my colleagues cry out in pain, and to own my own privilege as I honor that each person is of sacred worth, created in God’s own divine image. My faith allows me comfort in times of struggle, and to know that many are with me in this work, praying for me and all that transpires. As much as the storms rage, as much as I get caught up in the frustration and outrage of the moment, my faith brings me an inner calm. I know rest in a holy spirit that allows me to return to wholeness and then choose how I want to show up. I get to prioritize things other than myself my own ego, I know forgiveness and the value of grace and mercy.
This past year as chair of the Board of Education of Portland Public Schools was unimaginable. We dealt with the pandemic and what that meant for education as we balanced virologist recommendations with advice from academic experts and children’s mental health advices. We were shaped by the murder of George Floyd and the deeply needed community lament and action around the racist culture we are steeped in and how that is amplified and lived out in our schools. We crafted and passed the largest bond ever in Portland’s history, securing a new high school for Jefferson and making needed upgrades to curriculum, technology, and many other buildings. We reopened in person school and focused on equity in all of that work. We renamed 2 of our high schools, honoring the legacy of black leaders while acknowledging and wrestling with our racist past and present, evidenced in a torrent of hate filled emails and inflammatory opinion pieces as we supported this vital work of the community.
I have always gained great comfort from the quote from the book of Esther, “And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?” I have tried to center in God through this season. To lead with humility and grace. To create space for others to lead. I have not been perfect in any of this, and yet I do believe that God in and through me and the very me-ness that God has made were important in this in the work, in serving 50,000 children during unprecedented event after unprecedented event.
My faith is such gift to me and a is the source of all I am able to do and be in the world. I am so very grateful for this gift and for the call God has placed in my life to serve churches, the community, and my family.
-Eilidh
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