Month: August 2026

Thank you, Dolly.

by Dr. Kristina Campbell

Saints sometimes appear in unlikely places, and flags are flying at half-staff to honor a saint of my generation.  Dolly Parton was uniquely created, uniquely gifted and uniquely full of life and generosity.

In a world that screams out for humility, Dolly was the incarnation of a humble heart.  She never forgot her roots in an impoverished hardscrabble Tennessee home where she was the fourth of twelve children.  God’s gift of music appeared early in her life, and Dolly sang before she could play an instrument.  Her songs were filled with gratitude, love and a generous heart.  Every song Dolly sang felt like a hymn.

Dolly was the definition of authenticity, and confidently showed up in her cotton candy hair, never trying to diminish her southern twang.  She was the real deal, and made a real contribution to the world around her.  She was a symbol of self-acceptance and grace, musically encouraging others to be the same.  One of her guiding values was honesty.

Dolly’s faith was strong and personal.  She approached her faith with a humble heart saying, “I have a lot of love to give.  I take my work very serious but I don’t take myself serious.”

Married for 59 years, Dolly protected the private and sacred relationship of her marriage.  Her husband, Carl Dean was rarely, if ever, seen in public, but he was Dolly’s biggest fan.  Dolly understood that some relationships are private and are to be held very close to the heart.

Dolly’s faith was at the core of her being, and she often spoke of growing up in a very open-hearted, faith-based family where she was taught to love and be accepting, and to give more than you receive.  The essence of Dolly’s faith is expressed in this quote:  “Whether you believe in God or not, you need to be grounded; you need to believe in something greater than yourself.  We grew up thinking that other people are just as important as we are.”  Dolly acted out these beliefs by embracing all people with a welcoming heart.

While exhibiting her posture of acceptance, Dolly radiated joy, and she approached life with a spirit of fun.  Dolly believed that to be a true Christian, our hearts have to be open to everyone.  She made a joyful noise.

Dolly’s generosity was apparent in all aspects of her life, but her special passion was the Imagination Library.  This program mailed a book each month to children in 42 states and Canada.  Dolly’s father was unable to read, and Dolly viewed this as a crippling aspect of his life.  Dolly herself read approximately fifty books a year.

So thank you, Dolly for giving us an authentic life well lived.  Thank you for your authenticity, your humility, your faith in action, your joie de vivre, your cotton candy hair.  There is probably some toe tapping going on in heaven, and a lot of angels singing “We Will Always Love You.”

You Do Not Have to Prove Your Worth

by Gordon Street, Commissioned Minister for Reimagining and Connecting with the God of One’s Own Understanding

Grace does not ask us to prove our worth—it invites us to receive Love and take the next faithful step.

For much of my life, I believed I had something to prove.

I felt the need to prove that I was worthy, that my life mattered, that my recovery was real, and that my calling to ministry was legitimate. Even after becoming a commissioned minister, I sometimes found myself looking for reassurance that my voice and the ministry I offered had value.

Over time, recovery and faith have taught me something different: God never asked me to prove my worth. Grace had already declared that I mattered.

That truth did not come to me all at once. It unfolded gradually through many years of recovery, spiritual growth, discernment, and learning to trust the God I experienced. It came through the people who walked beside me, the communities that welcomed me, and the quiet moments when I sensed a Presence holding my hand and inviting me forward.

I am learning that faith is not always about knowing exactly where we are going. Sometimes faith simply means trusting the Presence that goes with us and taking the next faithful step.

That step may be small. It may be asking for help, telling the truth, letting go of something we cannot control, or simply showing up when we would rather withdraw. We may not feel courageous when we take it. Yet courage is not the absence of fear. Sometimes courage is moving forward while fear is still walking beside us.

This understanding has become central to my ministry, Recovery Spirituality in Action. I often encounter people who feel distant from the church or uncomfortable with traditional religious language. Some carry wounds from religious communities. Others question whether they believe the “right” things or know enough about the Bible to begin a spiritual journey.

My message to them is simple: You do not have to understand God fully before you can begin experiencing God. Start where you are. Speak honestly. Remain willing. Allow the relationship to unfold.

There are many people around us carrying burdens we cannot see. They are weary from trying to meet expectations, appear strong, or prove that they belong. Some may even enter our churches wondering whether they will be accepted before they have said a word.

Perhaps our ministry is not to give weary people one more standard to meet. Perhaps it is to remind them that they matter, that grace is already reaching toward them, and that the next faithful step is enough for today.

The church can become a companion for weary hearts—a place where people do not have to pretend that everything is well before they are welcomed. It can be a place where they are reminded that God is present even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.

I no longer want to spend my energy trying to prove my calling. I simply want to live it:

Show up.
Offer what is mine to offer.
Trust God with what happens next.

Maybe that invitation is not only for ministers. Perhaps it is for all of us.

We can stop trying to prove that we deserve Love and begin receiving the grace that has been surrounding us all along. We can rest in God’s presence, listen for the Spirit’s gentle movement, and take the next faithful step.

For today, that is enough.