Chairman of iask, Inc. Sophia Nelson
An Open Letter from iask Chairman of the Board & Founder Sophia A. Nelson, Esq.
Dear Sisters, Gentlemen and supporters of iask, Inc:
It seems as though “Busy” is becoming the universal response to the question, “How are you?” In today’s fast-paced world people seem to rate their worth and value on the relentless busyness of their schedules. We consider people who somehow know how to rest and set boundaries as weaklings, lazy , or not hard working. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Long gone are the good ‘old days of summer where we shut it all down, went camping, had cook-outs and enjoyed our families without the interruption of work calling, blackberry’s ringing, laptops buzzing, or ipods & iphones singing.
I see it in my own life and the lives of countless sister friends and colleagues. And I find myself shaking my head a lot lately asking–what is wrong with us? It is not just the women folk who are too busy these days either, our men, our children, our elders are all texting, ipading, exercising on the Wii, and constantly on the go. Rest is something we have forgotten how to do and we are paying a heavy price in our homes, our culture, and with our wellness and health.
The fact of the matter is that we have a hard time being still, we have a hard time staying focused on what matters–we are all worried and weary travelers on this journey called life and it is frankly destroying many of our inter-personal relationships and spiritual fellowship with each other as human beings. Many of us are in fact angry and cranky–we feel pushed to the limit–we are stressed out and we want out but have no idea how to make it happen.
B-U-S-Y what does it really mean?
I see busy as a thief–let me say it again–a thief–one who steals, robs, and takes what does not belong to him. Being busy robs us of the time to contemplate, and visit with our own thoughts and needs. Being busy robs us of time with loved ones, friends and family that we rarely get to see in such restless, activity filled lives. Being busy and always wanting more robs us of the critical and life sustaining need to R-E-S-T and be S-T-I-L-L so that we can hear God’s voice and know what it is that He truly has for us.
In my five years as President of iask (aka I Am My Sister’s Keeper) and now as Chairman I have watched busyness rob us of something far more valuable: Love, compassion, service, and sisterhood. I do not say this as an indictment as much as it is meant to be a truthful observation. I hear it from preachers, teachers, coaches, organization leaders, non-profit managers, charities and the like–people are simply too B-U-S-Y to care and to get involved. “If you are lucky, they may write you a check to help feed the hungry or cloth the homeless, but don’t count on it.” Said one non-profit CEO. I have lamented about this countless times in iask, but always an optimist I believe that if you build it the right people will come.
Sisters, friends trust me I get it: you work all day, you are tired, you get harassed at work, by relationships, by life. You are struggling to make ends meet, your families need you–friends need you–everyone wants a piece of Y-O-U. Boy do I know this truth--Service is often thankless and at times downright abusive as those you try to help will curse you and spitefully use you. But take heart Jesus told you that if they hated him they will hate you also. That in this world you will have many troubles, but count it as joy because he himself has overcome the world.
Easy words to read–hard words to live out. We find our character in times of crisis and trouble. We find out who our friends are in the midst of life’s sudden and unexpected storms. I am walking in the midst of perhaps the biggest storm of my life right now–and but for my sisters I would be swept away and capsized by the crashing waves of the thunderous and rolling sea. Bottom line: We all need friends, we all need support, we all need counsel, and compassion. Sisterhood is not a spectator sport–it requires active participation and love which covers over a multitude of sins.
We as women of faith are called to something greater, higher, more meaningful. I have had my heart broken too many times and been disappointed at how hard it has been to get women engaged in the “service” part of our motto: service-self-success. The faithful few who got us to our five year anniversary last May and to where we are today at six years old–are to be applauded and thanked for giving, serving, supporting, and living out your life of F-A-I-T-H through your A-C-T-I-O-N-S.
I heard someone say once, “there can be no true love without sacrifice.” I agree.
As I am finally getting sometime in my own life to R-E-S-T and reflect after having spent the last year of my life literally working no less than 12 hours a day on my first book, I realize I missed ALOT in the last year. I missed birthday parties, Baptisms, Births, Weddings, concerts, dancing, laughter, phone conversations, letters, trips, cards, baby showers, and tender private moments with my beau. As the leader of iask, Inc. I inadvertently allowed the organization to come to a virtual stand still because I simply could not replicate myself into 20 pieces to get it all done. And we had no sisters who were able to step up and fill my shoes while I was gone. Everyone was busy.
A very sobering fact to face and one we are addressing in leadership now. And one that I publicly wish to acknowledge and apologize for to the new members, longtime members and supporters of this great sisterhood. I could try to justify my shortcomings and say that I did my best (which is true but it wasn’t pretty) or that I had to get my book done over the past year but the truth is we need to REDEFINE iask and refocus our organizational priorities on what truly matters in this life.
The exciting news: we are going to bring in younger, fresher, motivated, visionary, technologically smarter and most importantly compassionate & loving sisters & brothers (of all colors) to lead the organization and we are going to stand up a Board of Directors that will truly run the corporation and that will rival some of the best corporate boards in America. We will be one the most significant organizations of the 21st Century when all is said and done–we need you–please come join us!!!
And in my 43 years on this earth I have learned that the most valuable things any of us can achieve is not a Harvard MBA, or a Law Degree, a yacht, a new Mercedes, a big name in lights, trips around the world, designer shoes and handbags, speaking engagements, TV appearances or a large savings account to match our half million dollar home in the suburbs. Sisters don’t you know none of this stuff will go with you when you die. So why do we worship it and spend our lives being busy accumulating the very things we don’t even have time to enjoy?
None of this matters–the most important achievements of our lives come in the form of Love-Happiness & Fulfillment. How you define Love, Happiness and Fulfillment is somewhat subjective I agree–BUT I think the sermon I heard this morning reminded me of why I founded iask. Inc. and why it is that I have hung in there with it (as have some of you) for all of these years.
The sermon I heard this morning was simple–it was simply entitled: Are you living out your faith? The good preacher made a simple but profound observation and that is this: If you call yourself a follower of Christ–or a Christian you must strive everyday to do what he did;love as he did; and obey what he called us to do in his word-the Bible. He talked about how many of us are so caught up into having “religious experiences” and “feelings”–and “getting our church on”–”or being seen” or “going to church to get a hook up” or to “be in anointed leadership” that we miss the meaning of our purpose. We say we love God and that we are followers of His–yet we don’t follow the very simple commands that he left us. What were His commands–in a nutshell we as human beings are called to show our faith by how we treat others–how we serve others–how we love them, forgive them, reach out to them when they hurt, cover them, protect them, feed them, clothe them, invite them into our homes, etc.
That is IT folks! Nothing more, nothing less.
So my mission is this: I am looking for a “few good sisters” who want to serve others, while learning to truly take care of and nurture themselves first so that they have enough reserve to effectively serve others, and who want to lead lives of true fulfillment by learning to love, be loved, and reach for happiness. That is the iask mission–sisterhood–service-self-success. I hope you will come and join us as we are in a rebuilding year. We expect 2011 to be the greatest year for our organization ever. God bless!
If I have not love, I am nothing!
Sophia
