ABOUT SUE PIZOR YODER…THE REST OF THE STORY

sue-pizor-yoder-blank-slate-founder

Hi. I’m Sue. I’m the facilitator of Blank Slate. Let me tell you my story. I grew up with a deep sense of God with me. I have an amazing brother who happens to have Down’s Syndrome and God seemed to let me see His/Her face a lot through my younger bro. I ended up becoming a pastor…(a surprise to many!) because I loved engaging people around conversations that matter. Things like:

  • what does it look like to treat one another with compassion?
  • how do we learn to see each person as unique and love them just as they are?
  • can we honor the distinct journey of each person and yet see how very much we also have in common?
  • acknowledge that everyone wants and needs to be loved in order to truly thrive and reach their potential
  • how BIG can we paint God instead of box God in?
  • can we build bridges instead of destroy them?

 
I wanted to create a community where:

  • people and relationships matter more than being right
  • the specifics of what we believe is not more important than how we treat one another
  • love wins
  • people value the one planet we’ve been entrusted to care for
  • our stories can be freely and honestly shared (warts and all) because we remember we are loved and try to love and
  • value one another that same way.
  • those who share can speak their truth, ask honest questions and doubts, share their deepest joys and fears, and those listening will attempt to listen with love not judgment
  • ALL neighbors matter and we ask one another: to whom must we become neighbor?
  • we seek after justice for ALL people
  • people dare In HOPE to make a positive difference even if they will not live to see the difference they make

 
For me, I have been helped and taught by a loving God how to do this. I have a lot of friends who have not for many reasons. We are trying to create a community where we seek LOVE as the most important thing (not gender, race, identity, education, on and on the list goes!)

I want to create a community where people can explore and wrestle with mystery, miracle and memory.

So I rallied a group of folks who held a similar vision and BLANK SLATE was born.

So Blank Slate is many and varied groups of people who are exploring meaning-making together.

If any of this resonates with you, I hope you will consider joining us!