Facebook Publication Date: 7/3/2022 17:07

Yes, I’m doing an Ask.

*Don’t punish me for doing so.*

In the 18 months since February 2021, I have done somewhere between 5-10 Asks. It’s supposed to be weekly.

I just haven’t had the stomach for it.

Every time I do one, I lose readers and community members, and those who have been making mischief for this past year and half have reveled in that fact and have weaponized the fork out of it.

So…a few days ago, I had a conversation in the post with Nicole, who had gifted us with a very challenging (and true) observation as a conversation starter. You will find it in the posts from earlier this week.

She was so kind and supportive–and direct and candid as well, especially as it concerned the community. Some found it hard to read.

I kept it. In fact, I am using her words to you (she said as much in the thread, and I asked her if she would be willing to write a paragraph to you as well) to use in this Ask.

What we talked about–in the public thread, as well as in private messaging is true.

Thanks to the Accidental Experiment of this past week, I have received a plethora of affirmation and encouragement. Thank you for saying that this is an essential service; thank you for saying that you get content and context here that you don’t get anywhere else.

And a very humble thank you to those who spoke to me personally; who affirmed my mission and character and method. Believe me, I felt it.

Enough of you did so that I feel charged to not only continue, but to double down.

But I–and we as the community of Lace on Race, can’t do it without you and your tangible support.

It really is that simple.

I just went back and read Nicole’s and my conversation in the thread from earlier. There is one thing, only one thing, that she said that I don’t completely agree with.

She said that the community of Lace on Race doesn’t deserve me. Sometimes I think that most of you agree with that–that you don’t deserve the deep hesed and commitment and modeling and community that I offer you. That you don’t think you are up to the challenge of rigorous engagement, eye to eye walking and learning faithfulness and reliability.

I think you are. I think you do.

I think everyone needs to be seen well and held well. And I believe that for me and for this community as well.

As I have said numerous times, LoR has not lost net eyeballs–in fact, we have grown by raw numbers by about 1000 since last year. What we have lost is tangible support that allows us to keep our doors open.

And let’s be real–and squarely face what Nicole is talking about. Y’all have more power–and thus more responsibility–than you acknowledge.

Again, I am grateful for all of your kind words. And for new faces that popped up during the accidental experiment. If all of the new faces, and the returning faces, that we saw this past week stood up and joined in with tangible support, we would make our very modest goals. That’s just true. This is my slightly gentler way of saying what Nicole said in the graphic.

I want to do so much. I want to be here for you. Right now, and as you choose to become ready to go ever deeper.

All in service to North Star Values. All with the long game in mind. All to live it out and to become the people we say we want to be.

This is the first Ask in a very long time. Stand with me.

Keep walking.

**Edited to add this: throughout the week, there were about 600 of you who either appeared for the first time or reappeared after a protracted absence. All of you wanted me to know that you saw me. This is another way of seeing me. And toward that end, I have a request of you. Whether or not you choose to tangibly engage with this space, I think it is a crucial part of your practice to at least be able to say you saw me here too. Not ignore it, not scroll past it. So I’m asking everyone who sees this post, regardless of your decision to keep this space viable, respond with the same fervor and ardor that you did earlier this week. All you need to do is say I see this. Or I see you. Or anything really to let me know that you saw and read this post. Thanks in advance. This is a big deal.

Edit 2.0: as of this writing, there have been 600 views. And exactly 11 responses. This is indeed a referendum of sorts.

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