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| Cathy Smith--A Warrior Princess |
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| Cathy and Gordon |
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| Allyson, Cathy, Haley and Gordon |
We decided to meet for a
mid-morning breakfast at The Cairn.
We sat at a small table pushed against a column and pulled our chairs close
to one another so we might hear. The coffee shop boomed with music and
laughter and the quiet under hush of conversations.
We hadn’t seen each other
in years. We hadn’t engaged in real or lengthy conversation in over a decade.
And yet there we sat. We somehow had managed in a strange way to keep up with
each other.
Our daughters were friends
years ago—playing with American Girl dolls and having tea parties. They spent
nights at each other’s houses. They are all grown now.
And there we sat—both of
us in new roles. In new places. Unexpected
places. Our minds reeling from what God had done in us. During that hour
and a half we talked non-stop. We laughed. Tears puddled and slid down our cheeks.
The noise around us faded as we listened to what God had done and is doing in
our lives.
I wish I had brought a
camera. I so wanted to capture her expressions and her animations. The
lighting and her hair shadowed her face, played on the curves and structure
of it. Later I wanted so much for others to see the beauty played out there—dancing
through her eyes. The sweetness of it.
She’s tall and strong and
there’s a power that emanates from her. It’s a gentle power. Unassuming.
Non-threatening. But I recognized it. Cathy is gifted. God has gifted her
with administration and leadership. And I wondered—were we, at this table,
sitting at a modern day Tree of Deborah? Deborah intrigues me. I read her story
often. In Cathy I saw a vision of the
judge of Israel.
We discussed women and
ministry. We talked about feminism and the roles women play. Cathy explained
that she did not desire for anyone to hear her roar. Yes, she is a woman. She
is a leader. This is evident. She is moving in the realms of her giftedness.
Cathy’s desires are for
women to understand that they are not weak damsels in distress. They are not
women waiting in a tower to be freed or asleep waiting for a said-kiss. Women
who belong to God are princesses she explained. But not the Disney versions.
God’s women are warrior princesses.
Daughters of royalty who are engaged in the battle of the ages. Women who
stand in the gaps and fight in the flanks. And her ministry, her desire, is
to communicate this two-fold truth to us. Cathy wants us to understand what
it means to be a warrior princess.
Reluctantly we parted ways
that day. I didn’t want to leave. The morning felt like walking into a
refreshing oasis after being in the stone cold, dry dessert. How incredible
it is to see someone walking and moving in their place of God-giftedness. What
a delight to watch someone move in the places God has designed them to be
with no excuses or explanations—just this
is who God made me to be and what he has asked me to do. I left The Cairn
encouraged.
I left ready not to roar, but
to strap on my armor and enter the fray. I left ready not to feel entitled,
but to embrace the responsibility I (we) have as daughters of the King.
We tend to downplay our
gifts God has given us—sometimes out of false humility and sometimes out of
fear. But, like Cathy, we need to learn to embrace and exercise our gifts.
When we do we will glorify
him and build up the Body.
Cathy and Gordon will celebrate
their 30th wedding anniversary this year! And a celebration it is!
There’s a lot of love and laughter in their home especially when their two incredible
daughters, Allyson and Haley, come home and share their adventures. Cathy and
Gordon both serve in the ministry of a local church (Cathy is the executive
minister and Gordon a teaching and pastoral minister). Cathy is also a breast cancer survivor! Both Cathy and Gordon’s
mothers are widows and their daughters grown, so as Cathy says, “we are
definitely a part of that sandwich generation.
Again, please remember
that these interviews are long. Please take time to read them. I continue to
be amazed and inspired and convicted by these women’s words.
All italicized and
parenthetical statements are comments Tamera has emphasized.
1. In this current season what would be your most comforting and your most
challenging Scripture verse or passage?
Most comforting: Psalm 46:1 “God
is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Although
I am wired by God to be a “fixer” and it is my natural tendency to try and
make things right for those who hurt or need help – I take comfort in this
verse time and time again. My inner peace is foundational only through
Him and in times of anxiety or struggle – my heart hears this verse and the
words from the hymn “It is Well” resonate in my head. I can’t change the circumstances most of
the time but I can change how I respond to them (Reread that piece of wisdom).
My response affects those around me and I’ve learned that even though it’s a
tough day – tomorrow has new mercies.
Most challenging: Colossians 4:5-6 “Be
wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every
opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned
with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” I am
challenged by the exhortation to make the most of EVERY opportunity! I
know God lays before us opportunities each day and it is our choice whether we
recognize them, seize them and act on them. In our daily routines – we
can be so busy “doing” that we stop “being” and I am certainly guilty of
that. I hear Jesus whispering to me to “slow down – look at what I want
you to see – have conversations and relationships with others. You need
them and they need you to be a part of their life at this time.” I can
be so time/task driven that I miss this. I believe I was more of a
“Martha” early on in my life but God has moved me into a “Mary” season.
I’m not really sure when that happened, but He did it when I wasn’t looking
or expecting it (Now, isn’t that just like God!).
2. With the Scriptures the given name two other books which have contributed
to the increase, growth and challenge of your faith?
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership – Ruth Haley
Barton. This book caught my eye but then I realized while reading it there
was a much bigger story for me to hear. It deals with seeking God in the crucible of ministry. My
husband and I both serve in ministry and it can be easy to think you can
handle it. The book helped me to develop spiritual practices and
disciplines to nourish my soul and to connect with Jesus in a way I had never
done before.
Redeeming Love – Francine
Rivers: I normally don’t read a lot of fiction and this is the ONLY
book in my life that I have read more than once! (it’s that time/task
issue – I know how they end – why read it again J) However, this book made me laugh, cry and
weep openly for the characters she brought to life. It inspired me to read
Hosea in the Bible over and over again. Redemption is more than we can
imagine and this book plays it well. I lead a class of 11th
grade girls on a regular basis and I push this book on them. The grace
shown after failures and the example of trials in one person’s life bring
home the reality of all of our struggles.
3. If you could have a
conversation with your twenty-one year old self what would you tell her?
At 21 I was young, ambitious, getting married and thought I could conquer
the world….I would tell myself I could
be the warrior/princess I desired to be but to choose WHOM I would be serving
first. Success is not measured in
dollars and materials possessions, it’s measured in relationships.
First and foremost with our precious Savior and Lord – second with our
family.
I would also tell her:
—It will all work out – maybe not the way you (I) designed it to be but
God’s plan will prevail and will be so much better than you can
even comprehend.
—Don’t fret about the small stuff.
—Laugh at yourself more often.
—Love even more than you dare.
—Take more time take more time with your dad – he’ll be gone sooner than
you know.
4. What do you think
are your two strongest spiritual gifts?
Discernment and
administration. My discernment is strong and with God’s grace
it has been used in ways I never thought of. This ministry coupled with
my past work experience and environment helped me see where Jesus was leading
me to serve. I’ve learned so much about the ministry of Administration
in my current position of Executive Minister. It took me several years
to accept that what I was doing WAS ministry. I see the open doors and
the way to speak gently into someone’s life now. Learning that process
was hard at times and I made many mistakes along the way. I’m thankful
for encouraging words from others to stay the course and for being able to
discover how God wanted to use me. It’s still a new journey every day
and I love what I do, but I love the
journey even more.
5. Our God has called you to a
minister to his Body with these gifts. Where and how does God have you
feeding and caring for his sheep?
Being a woman in ministry is hard at times and even difficult at
others. I have never been one to stand on a hill of “I am woman – hear
me roar”’ because that’s NOT who I am. Pride can get in the way of
ministry so easily and I see that happen often. I don’t want my ministry to be about me being a woman – I
want it to be about me being a follower of Christ. (Amen, amen and
amen!) God is opening doors for me with other women and in trying
to value where they are and how they are serving. He has confirmed to
me and through others that it’s okay to lead…but to lead like Jesus
would.
6. What one piece of
encouragement would you offer the women reading this interview?
Take chances – put
aside your feelings of insecurity. Satan uses those feelings against
women ALL the time. What you need to hear is “God is our refuge and
strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Taking chances will not
always get you into trouble and God is there if you do - but maybe, just
maybe by taking chances you might open up a wonderful world of love,
adventure, ministry opportunities and stronger relationships blessing you and
others. (Precious Women, did you hear this?)
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