October 1, 2007
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Feels Like Family
Yesterday afternoon I went to a coffee for the ladies at the church.
It was easy, laid back, laughter, and good times (with cheesecake). I was uptight.
I know its silly. But well, the whole point of this get together was to match people up into partnerships of mentor and mentee. An intense get to know you exercise lasting for six months. So here I am, with my cup of juice balanced on my knee and I'm more uptight than I've been in a long time. Because this isn't just sitting on a pew at church, this is putting myself in a place where I'll be vulnerable.
The last several churches I've been in have been large. No one got to know me well enough to figure out whether I have odd beliefs. But I do, have a few odd beliefs.
So I don't want to be a mentor to anyone else, because I don't want to have to encourage someone in a direction or path that I don't walk. Neither do I really want to be a mentee. At 44 years I've been through a lot in developing my strange theology. I know it may seem a little arrogant, but I'm not looking for a teacher, I just want to walk how I walk.
There I was with my cookie, my juice, and my slice of cheesecake. Listening to the other women I must admit that I felt a deep warmth and welcome. I really didn't want to mess it up and I knew that if I went through with the whole thing, I'd blow it. I'd not just be the new woman, I'd be the strange one. I didn't want to walk away. So there I was.
We took a break.
A lovely woman, leader of the BAG ladies made her way over to speak with me. She asked me a question or two. And then she said, "I just want you to know that I plan to put down on the paper for you to be my partner."
She's 74 years old. She's been a widow for 30 years. She's irascible and she's happy. She's got long long gray hair that hangs down her back in a braid. She told me that the first time she saw me in church, I felt like family. And she told me that she wants me to teach her some crafting ideas that she can use working with the little kids.
As we talked I learned that her life has been hard in ways that I can't imagine. She has outlived a child and raised a grandchild. She's lived through abuse and known amazing love.
For the next six months, I'm going to have a lot of opportunity to spend time with this woman. I don't think she cares whether I have an open theology, or whether I believe that the Bible is inerrant.
I think that she only cares that when she saw me in church, I felt like family.
Comments (13)
She's happy for you to be you. Keep walking your walk.
That's great! You never know, some of those ladies may have some different beliefs as well.
How heartwarming!
Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship....and further proof that God loves you.
This sounds like something good. Blessings.
Wow, what a special person.
awesome!! when we moved here my very first friend i met was 82 years old. she is still my friend and family here in California. She is 90 now. Her daughter and i became best friends here too..she just turned 60. We all met at church. Nana cannot make it to church any more. We have since left that church, and my friend goes to a different church too. But, we have all remained close. That is how you know they are Family...when you leave the church, you still connect!
How wonderful! I hope your relationship grows and turns into a deep and lasting friendship. We can all use more of those.
I'm glad you put yourself out there and didn't walk away. I forget sometimes that there are great people in the world just looking for someone to connect with and often the only way we can find them is to let ourselves be vulnerable.
Love!
Those kinds of connections happen for a reason. Just walk your walk.
Small churches DO tend to have you feeling that way, unfortunately, most of them get that corporate desire to megastore their religion
I agree with WordFaery.
this is a wonderful post; "family," in every sense of the word, is a grand thing indeed.
I've always wanted my future to include this story.
And I've always wanted a long, grey braid. There is something about it that would make me very much like Jane Goodall, and that's definitely something I aspire to. Passion is a wonderful thing.
I am happy that you have this as a story.
Edy.
PS: I love hot air balloons.
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