I was sitting in my office at church early Tuesday afternoon when Corinne came in to share the news that Dolly Parton had died. I was surprised at how sad I felt. I’ve long admired Dolly Parton. Certainly for her musical talent and ability to entertain, but even more for her enormous heart. Dolly always seemed to lead with kindness, and consistently offered unconditional support to people across racial, generational, socio-economic, political, and LGBTQ+ divides. She was passionate about encouraging people to be themselves without fear of judgment, and she walked the talk by always being unapologetically herself. There were many ways she generously gave financially as well: donating donating millions toward HIV/AIDS research at a time when most public figures remained silent about that, further millions children's cancer research, millions toward other healthcare programs for children, and later millions toward coronavirus vaccine research, just to name a few.

And, of course, there is the wonderful Imagination Library, the organization Dolly founded which sends books each month to children from birth to age five, free of charge. The program is available to children everywhere, with no registration requirements. Audio and braille books are even sent, as needed. My own nieces and nephew receive these books, and for a long time, Dolly's own book, Coat of Many Colors, was my youngest niece's favorite. Remy would ask us to listen to her read the book, which she had memorized, and then get up and perform the song by the same name, over and over, twirling with her favorite doll - the one she named "Dolly Parton". (Always referred to with first and last name!) This alone gives me a soft spot for Imagination Library, but knowing that Remy is one of millions of children who have received books - over 200 million books given away so far - makes it even more wonderful.

From everything I've ever heard or read, Dolly Parton's public kindness and generosity was authentic, and she was the same person behind the scenes as she was in the spotlight. There aren't many people in the world who've had the impact she had, and even fewer who were loved across all lines of difference. Any which way I look at it, Dolly seemed to live out the teachings of Jesus as well as anyone I've seen. I can imagine her welcomed through the gates of heaven with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven harmonizing a rousing chorus of "Well done!" with banjo accompaniment.

My prayer for all of us this week is that we can find our own unique ways to live out Jesus' teachings; find our own ways to move humanity one step closer to the world God dreams of. Just like Dolly.

Blessings,
Jennifer