Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Have you ever had a divine appointment? I speak of an appointment that changed your thinking or action for the better. One of those times happened decades ago. I think about it even now.
A Happen Chance
You see, one of the most delightful people that I had the pleasure of knowing for a short while was Anne White (Dr. Rebecca Ann Threadgill White). Anne died at the young age of 63 years, in 2007. I met her at a leadership workshop for Miami-Dade Public Schools Educators. God made our appointment an anointed one. Of all places, it was in the ladies’ bathroom. What a divine appointment!
It happened that Anne and I were the only two in the bathroom at that time! A conversation ensued. I was from North Carolina, and was from Cowpens, South Carolina. She was so inspiring. We laughed about ourselves. I had never met anyone like Anne who loved laughing so much. As she talked about her husband, family, and school (in the workshop), I drew visuals in my mind. I was familiar with dusty roads, red brick schools, and community educators from my own childhood memories. During the day, they taught school; in the evenings, they helped out on family farms. That was part of who Anne was.
Yes, Anne’s laughter was contagious. She had such a sense of humor. As she said, being from a town called Cowpens, she had to have a sense of humor. I make mention of Anne in my first published book, “Servant Leadership NOW – “Stepping Up Your Leadership Call.” She had that much of a personal impact.
Strange Counterparts
Of Anne, I can go further and say that she had a sense of self-assurance. She knew who she was and loved that as much as she seemed to love family. She was one of the first people to encourage me to continue to move forward in an urban school district. Similarly, our influences came from family and community. Being from rural areas, we both had experienced from counterparts what we called “knick-picking” because of our differences (the way we talk and sometimes just because we were Southerners). She, on the other hand, used those situations to make a positive impact. Her book “Twelve Commandments for People Who Work with People,” is an example of how she did that.
I still have a couple of copies of Anne’s book in my collection. It is not the book that causes me to pause now. It is the memory of this person from Cowpens, South Carolina. For that moment in time, her belief in my leadership ability will make a difference. I will be ok as a different kind of educator. My lesson – “Be comfortable in my own skin as an urban educator with a rural background. God always choose strange people for leadership in odd situations and in odd times. Use my talents and my stage to fight for change – for all of us require special support! Moreover, not everyone will see or appreciate your differences. However, if you are not at the table, your chance of making a difference is dimmed! Shine your light for positive impact – a divine appointment.”
Your Divine Appointment
Have you encountered an appointment that changed your thinking or action for the better? Was it life changing? That is the way God works for our good. Clear your thoughts for His leadership (It just might be a divine appointment).
At that time, I did not know that I would author a book. Anne would be part of my inspiration. You can view one of my favorite books by Anne. I found a free download at Internet Archive. Click on this link for Twelve commandments for people who work with people : White, Ann T : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Finally, we encourage you to check these blogs to lift up your divine appointments i.e.,
#divineAppointment #TwelveCommandments #servantleadership #AnneWhite