Inspirational, not infallible

This week’s devotional comes from Linsey Wildsmith, (Head of Christian Mission) as she shares her thoughts about what our value INSPIRE means to her.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:16

I am a huge perfectionist. I don’t say that with any sense of false humility or pride. I very much dislike this part of my character. It brings unnecessary, self-inflicted pressure with little to no advantage to myself or others. I tell you this because, when I consider what it means to ‘inspire’ others,  which is one of our organisational values, I start to panic. I have to remind myself that being inspiring does not mean being infallible. 

To inspire is to spark hope and possibility in others. It’s about showing what’s possible through our actions, our attitude, and our words, even though we have flaws. Inspiration isn’t about being perfect. Inspiration is about being authentic and encouraging others to believe they can overcome the challenges they face and achieve great things in spite, and maybe even because of, those obstacles.

I’ve said it before, but it never stops being true – I’m so grateful that part of my job involves visiting the huge variety of settings across YMCA BCG. It means I get to see how often our wonderful colleagues inspire others in the role they play. I see inspiration in the creativity of our staff, in the way they go above and beyond for children and young people. I see inspiration in the stories of transformation that happen every day through our programmes and places. When someone feels seen and supported, they start to believe in themselves. That’s inspiring and it happens all the time in this organisation.

As a Christian, Jesus is the ultimate example of inspiration for me. Jesus inspires me because He lived with courage and compassion, even in the face of difficulty. His example challenges me to lead with hope and kindness. Whether or not you share my faith, I think we all know the power of inspiration – it changes lives. We all have the ability to inspire someone today.

Point to ponder: How can your actions today inspire someone to believe in themselves?