Jan. 10: 2013 Claypool Lecture

Dr. Brené Brown, nationally renowned researcher, speaker and author of the New York Times bestseller Daring Greatly, is the featured speaker for the 2013 Claypool Lecture, sponsored by Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. This year’s lecture will be held on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Leslie S. Wright Center at Samford University.

Vulnerable, afraid and imperfect are words not generally associated with daring and brave, but Brown argues that it takes courage to be vulnerable.

“Caring about what people think is important for connection, but taking it too much to heart can crush the spirit and stifle our creativity and innovative thinking,” Brown said.

In her recent appearance on Katie Couric’s daytime talk show, katie, Brown said, “Daring to make yourself feel vulnerable can change the way we live and love, and preventing yourself from being vulnerable – which most of us do on a daily basis – can actually hurt us more than it helps us.

 “The Hustle for Worthiness” is the theme for her lecture on Jan. 10.

“Worthiness is not about who we should be or who we might be or who we could be. It’s about who we are. Right now. Today. It’s about waking up and believing, I am enough.”

Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. In addition to Daring Greatly, she is also the author of The Gifts of Imperfection and I Thought it Was Just Me.  

Organizing the event are Saint Luke’s members Robert Boylan, Kelley Fitzpatrick, Kelly Lamkin, Tom Lamkin, Leslie Naff, Leah Rice, Jim Stewart and Jeannette Watford.

Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at saint-lukes.com or by calling 802-6207. A book signing will follow the lecture.

The Claypool Lecture Series is sponsored by Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church and was created to honor the service of the Rev. John Claypool, former Rector and one of the country’s most highly regarded preachers and Christian authors.