i know, i know…blah blah blah catalyst, blah blah.? is anne ever going to write on her blog again?
yes!
i will still be tracking the events of catalyst at the backstage site, but am saving this dear blog for some more personal reflections, should i have any along the way.
i noticed the comments have slowed down died on here lately and i’m sorry for not inviting more conversation.
this opportunity that i have is like an IV push of those most influential in leadership (if you define influence as speaking to a large group of people in some medium or another).
everyone-all-at-once-wham!
me?
i am just a newbie author with a blog with flowers meeting these pastors, authors, and speakers for the very first time.?
it makes me nervous.
and i became obsessed with making the best first impression.
one author in particular, who i was extremely nervous and excited to meet, is william paul young, who wrote the shack (which as irony would have it, on amazon, our books are paired together for a great bargain!)?
now, in full disclosure, i have not actually read the shack yet.?
but i will.?
and in the mean time, i have highly regarded and admired mr. young’s ability to start discussion.? it’s nothing short of amazing.
tonight, as i pulled into the hotel (disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross)…clothes over my arm, earrings falling out of my ear, as i attempted to press the elevator button with my elbow, a voice behind me says,
“i’ll get it.”
together, we hop on the elevator, he asks me what floor.
“two, please.”
i ask him if he is here for catalyst.? he says yes.
“my name is paul.”
“i’m anne jackson.? i’m hosting catalyst backstage.”
“oh,” he says.? “i’m the author of the book, the shack,” he continues, unassumingly.
he leans over to give me a hug (me – disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross) and we talk about some of the upcoming events on our calendars. he graciously fills me in on his schedule.
we arrive at floor two, and i head to my room.
(disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross).
my first catalyst first impression. it wasn’t what i had in mind.
but it was beautiful.
Comments
42 responses to “confession: my obsession with a first impression”
Strange as this may sound, I teared up as I read this. God deals with us in amazingly gently lovingly ways. Look how He provided for you and spoke to you all at the same time.I wish you all the best Anne as you embark on this journey, meeting others who also influence us.
BTW, I read The Shack, read the “reviews”, loved it anyway, and gave it away to friends. It’s the only fiction book I’ve ever filled with underlining.
I wish I could be there. I feel sad sitting here in Bama while ya’ll are all having a party in Atlanta.
My own hugs to you, friend.
I am always repeating to my children, “You never get a second chance…” and they fill in the blank, in a little chorus, “…TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION. WE KNOW, MOM.” So I loved this post. Dealing with all that ‘celebrity’ would make me absolutely nuts. It’s quite affirming that you had a moment of soggy grace in the elevator.
I’ll bet – and I hope – that it sets the tone for the entire week for you. May you have many more soggy moments of honest, authentic grace. I’ll pray for you.
(wish I was there…)
God has a great way of showing us how certain things sometimes just don’t matter… You will get a second chance to make a first impression; well you know what i mean! :-0 Have Fun!
I have a feeling you always make a good first impression, no matter what you feel or look like.
[laughing] Sadly, I can relate to your “first impression obsession” all too well [which is probably why I’m up at midnight painting my nails even though deep down I’m sure no one really cares. But just in case…]
And I wonder if twitter & blog posts are becoming the new First Impression. I mean, really, how many people feel like they already know you before they ever met you face to face? [I did]
Can’t wait to see your behind the scenes color commentary! Ben & Brad absolutely chose the right person when they picked you to do this.
Cheers!
i love you and am praying for you. i’m no famous anything, but if it is any consolation, my first impression of you — i can still remember and you were lovely and loving and wonderful. i fell in love with you instantaneously.
you’ll be awesome. just like you are.
Good for you, Anne! My impression of you goes way beyond any of this stuff-disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross. You are certainly unique and amazing and I’m very glad of that!! Have fun this week!
ok first…have a blast at the conference.
second…don’t you dare think for one minute that God has made anyone more or less important than you. We’re all just the same, trying to commune with God.
Don’t get star struck for no reason.
Anne, imagine a world where everything was perfect and we did not have to worry. God would have nothing to do! Don’t sweat the small stuff….And if you are a little sweaty, or gross as you put it, when I (hopefully) meet you this week, so be it. I’ll still love you as a brother in Christ just the same. It’s all good!
Praying for you over the next few days. I know you’ve got a lot going on.
Anne, do take the time to read “The Shack”. It was a great way to understand the Trinity and to understand how prayer can be so easy. I was truly touched by this book.
The beauty in life is never found with the perfect lines the vaccume makes in the rug! It usually is in the mess! Love this post!
OH MY GOODNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You were standing right next to PAUL YOUNG!!!!!!! Are you crazy woman!!!!! I LOVE HIM!!! I especially love THE SHACK…if you’ve seen my blog….. I have read his book TWICE and bought the AUDIO!!! You should check out his interview with Northpoint at http://www.722.org – It will make you look at his book differently too!! He’s totally awesome and (I believe) COMPLETELY inspired by God!!!
YOU are the woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul came to our home group last fall, I know, crazy… but it was just awesome and he was right at home. none of us had ever met him before, well, except one person like 20 years ago… we had a totally great convo too!
You will do great, Anne, even though you are out of control and out of your comfort zone! God will, is, can… use you!
I just want to thank you for your chapter… you have NO IDEA how much God is using this book already!
classic, huh? sounds awfully genuine…
Awesome!
Who ever said that God doesn’t have a sense of humor? I hope I have a chance to bump into you at Catalyst. Probably won’t, because it’s pretty crazy with 12,000 people there, but it would be cool to say hello!
Anne, There are a bunch of HPC peeps at Catalyst. I have told several of them to get me a signed copy of your book while they are they. Is that possible? I think Dan Ohlerking will stop by where you are and attempt to purchase a copy of your book for me…at least I asked him too, hope he remembers.
I hate that I didn’t get to go. So jealous of everyone that is there.
quick response – sorry – carole – the book isn’t out til feb! :)
oh yes! you have to read The Shack. amazing book. seriously go read it.
what a sweet man.
So how wrong is it to be terribly and completely jealous of you!!! Have an amazing time!
Lori
http://www.loribiddle.com
Impression mish-meshion… Were you real? He hugged you.. That’s gotta mean some kind of connection. I am missing Catalyst this year, but stalking your online updates.
I think that first impression was God-designed. No fancy dress to hide behind. Just the blue jeans and t-shirt..no..the rained on, messy Anne. Don’t you just love how God takes care of those things?
I’ve never met you personally, but I think you’re cool even if I never see you face-to-face. :)
To interject a moment of sobriety. Here’s hoping that our church leaders take at least a few moments to get beyond the celebration of leadership personalities and publications to get collectively on their faces before God for prayer and repentance. Like our national situation, the church has become fixated on leadership and personalities and lost it’s sense of direction (I’m speaking of the pew survey and the findings of both the Willow Creek and Granger reflections) We’ve proven we can draw crowds, but the message has given way to mode and we have traded REPENTANCE and Godly sorrow for social justice and works based righteousness.
These are sober times.
Anne,
It was great to meet you in person today.
It is so nice to hear that you struggle with this. Tonight at the Deadly Viper lab…I was mentally rehearsing some things very much along these lines. I think everyone else is struggling the same, but as we interact we do so naturally so it “seems” like everyone else has it together and really we are the only ones struggling on the inside. This is great.
anne, thats awesome. and hey, it can only get better from there ;)
Anne, wish I could be at Catalyst this year…but had to turn down the invite since my baby boy is due anytime now!
It was great to meet you for the first time at ministryCOM…and let me give you my first impression…genuine, tender and truly humble.
May God continue to mark your path and guide your steps.
gee – pushed many, many elevator buttons and held open many, many doors, and carried many, many suitcases at the airport/hotel for female strangers that were struggling………………..
hmmmmmmmmm, never got any hugs!
goes to show you……….only elevators are for hugs
Anne tell Andy hi for me!
i love him! how awesome!!!
have a good time. i agree with Aaron – don’t get star-struck. at the same time, i can relate. i was tongue-tied when i met jon foreman a couple months ago. and i always said, “they’re just people…” hah. easier said than done.
“most of us are like the rest of us”
i love that saying. reminds me that when i am nervous about meeting someone for the first time, they probably are a lil nervous too.
Love this story. Love his book!! Can’t wait to hear all of the other amazing stories and amazing and beautiful experiences. Safe travels and look forward to catching up!
Okay, you have already heard this in the comments above; however, I have to re-iterate that “The Shack” is amazing. It gave me a totally new look on the trinity….He has become Papa for me…. You will love it! Enjoy catalyst….
S.
The Shack…you will not believe that you waited this long to read it once you do. It is an awesome book. I had blogged about it several times and when it came time to do a bloggers phone conference someone from the publishing company emailed me to see if I wanted to be involved in that…I was like yea!! We were each allowed to ask one question and it was a live call with Paul, how do you ask just one question, how do you pick the one? It was more difficult than it sounded, but it was a blast.
Anne,
Love your blog and you are doing a great job at Catalyst.
Hey Anne,
I’m new to your blog but have been following y’all with the whole Catalyst thing. AMAZING!!! And, I just said “no way” when I got to the elevator part of your post.
No stinkin way!!! :)
Yeah, that guy freakin rocks. So yeah…I think you do too. I think you just need to relax. If God trusts you with the tasks you have been given then seriously, does it really matter what shirt you are wearing? Probably not. Most of the people I hang out with don’t even own shoes…so whatever. You already have everything you need to do the job you have been given to do. Like I said, you rock.
Isn’t he wonderful? I am jealous you got to meet him. After hearing him speak I just wanted to hug him and have a heart to heart. Seems absolutely genuine and wonderful.