Kay taught us. Today’s lesson was rich and we each lowered our pails, grasping for more, wanting our thirst quenched and discovering even more desire for water.
After the meeting end, conversations.
How is your book?
Have you heard yet?
Did you submit?
More words. Greetings. Blessings.
Women writers strike out to conquer the world of errands and family and projects on laptops. They leave refreshed.
A group of us lag behind and sit around a table. It’s not just a conversation; it is a sacred gathering . A holy place.
One of our friends has come today with her now constant companion. Grief has pulled up a chair behind her. His presence is palpable.
Several of us sit with her. We exchange words and talk about mourning. Tears of loss for her granddaughter’s death, a tragedy none of us understand, spring up from each of us.
No solving occurs.
Attempts to solve are useless.
Grief isn’t a problem to be fixed.
It’s a presence to be felt.
So we, her friends, give her the only thing we can give her. Our presence. She does not sit alone with him. We draw up beside her with tears and laughter. We take our buckets and pour what we can into hers.
And God sits with us. His arms embrace our friend with no commands and no expectations. His Spirit roams about and we all experience the miracle of community.
Of love that is mysterious and relentless and contagious and difficult.
We get up to leave and walk out to the lot to get into our cars and strike out to conquer the world of errands and family and projects on laptops.
As I get into Subaru, I glance over to the other women. Their buckets are full. Grief continues keeping pace with our friend, but she leaves with an extra pail of strength.
I look down and my own in brimming over.
God does mystery and miracle well.
His well.
9 comments:
Beautiful words, they brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.
This gave me goosebumps. Made my legs tingle.
Beautifully, insightful. How I missed you all today!
Robbie, that was exquisite. When you said that about Grief and the Holy Spirit being there in the room, I felt that in my soul. How utterly beautiful, your portrayal of a bitterly beautiful experience. I think MY bucket's a little fuller!
So thankful His well holds all that we'll ever need. Beautifully said, Robbie.
You captured this perfectly, Robbie. It certainly was a touching and beautiful time.
I don't even know the situation and I'm crying, Robbie. Your words are powerful. Praise God!
Thank you ladies. God is so good and it is our priviledge to give testimony to that goodness with our words. I love being friends with writers! :0)
Beautifully written, isn't awesome how God has equipped us to handle life and what comes into it. Just the right words or just knowing what we are to do for each other.
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