Jena Nardella Talks Women
We’ve all seen the reality TV gold that happens when producers put enough beautiful women into the same small space.
Catty.
Manipulative.
Claws out.
Volume up.
But hopefully, even when life includes the same ingredients, some of us are working to live out an important distinction: real life doesn’t have to follow suit.
What if women…got along? Worked together? Pushed each other to be stronger?
Along these lines, today is the first post in a new blog series that interviews influential women on the topic of (shivers-up-your-spine) female-female collaboration.
With the killer lineup to come, it was crazy hard to pick a person to start with (They are all soooo good). But my heart pulled me toward kicking off the conversation with Jena.
Here’s the background story on Jena Nardella. At 22, Jena founded Blood:Water Mission alongside the band, Jars of Clay. (You’ll want to check her site out.) Since then Jena has been featured in Sojourners Magazine, Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, and the documentary film, Sons of Lwala.
But here is the real reason I start with Jena: The day we met we were surrounded by social justice leaders–the kind who have huge hearts and big opinions. In the course of the day, a heated discussion arose around some controversial issues. It was good discussion, but as is often the case, there was enough emotion in the room to
bring out the claws in any woman.
But not Jena.
Rather than turning up the aggression, Jena hung steady between her conviction and unwavering graciousness. And I’m confident that comes from a place inside her that works hard at relating well to others, including women.
I respect who she is and what she brings to our world. Here’s what came out of our conversation.
Sarah: Can you tell me about a time another woman reached out to you that helped you believe in the good potential of women-to-women friendships?
Janet Oberholtzer April 18, 2011 (9:34 am)
Love this! Glad to ‘meet’ Jena here … she’s a great example of a confident, strong person.
I look forward to more posts in this series.
Sarah April 18, 2011 (12:43 pm)
Thanks @Janet. I’m personally so touched when people overcome lazy relationships and stereotypical patterns and dig deep to love each other. These women are going to speak to that. :)
jody fernando April 18, 2011 (6:44 pm)
I love these ideas here… Sound along the lines a new book I’m reading “The Missional Mom” – have you seen it? What a great part of the conversation about womanhood!
Sarah Cunningham April 19, 2011 (7:33 am)
@Jody, I haven’t but I will definitely look it up. Stay tuned to the series. There is some good stuff to come. :)
Brie September 6, 2011 (9:08 pm)
I love this whole idea so much! I’m a SR. working on my Thesis in painting at Columbus College of Art and DEsign this year. And this is so much a part of the idea I am working to formulate right now. I am trying to do it with paint, but you said it SO GOOD! I”m so happy to see the thoughts in my head in words! Love this, great thoughts!