In the Company of Women

I had the privilege this past week of meeting for the second time with a group of women who gather to write and then to share stories from their lives. It's an eclectic group with a variety of life experiences, and both times I have met with them have been a blessings, especially the experience of learning more about these unique individuals. Of course God has created each of us as unique individuals, it's just that we don't often intentionally take the time to learn more about our sisters and brothers on this planet in such detail. This time we talked about crossroads in our lives--those times that changed the direction of our lives forever either through life circumstances or through our own actions. After listing all such crossroads we could think of in 10 minutes, we chose one to write about and to share.

Of all the many times of change in my life (and I was surprised how many I could list in such a short time), I chose to write about my decision to go to seminary. Doing so meant walking again in memory through the painful job change that led me to take a sabbatical from law practice and go to seminary to study God's word. In retrospect, I realize that God had already been calling me in that direction for some time. I learned through my own experience and those of my fellow classmates at seminary that when God calls, you might as well go quietly. Sooner or later you will likely end up there anyway, and it's less traumatic to go peacefully rather than wait to experience some of the ways God has of getting our attention. I personally know what it feels like to be run to ground by the Hound of Heaven. As a result, I've learned to pay better attention and to respond more promptly when God calls.

How richly my life has been blessed by the change I made, as painful as it was at the time. And how much I would have missed had I chosen to stubbornly stay in place rather than face the pain of loss and change. Time with these wonderful women was a good time to reflect on that hard earned wisdom and to share my story with the others. It was a time to remember that God is good and perhaps especially so in times of change.

Grace and Peace,
Donna Sue

Sanctuary

I spent four days this past week in a little corner of heaven, among poets and musicians and artists, all intent on encouraging each other and sharing their art. I have come to know these people in the past three years of attending the annual UMHB Writers' Festival, which is a remarkable, intimate experience of learning from other creative people. I have had few places of true sanctuary in my life so I welcome those when I stumble upon them. The last time I felt as safe as I feel with this group of folks was during my seminary experience. In a world that too often seems intent on conquering others rather than embracing their unique gifts, it is good to spend time among those who pursue a different more cooperative agenda. So my special thanks to Audell and Helen and all those who made the conference happen, and to the poets who have encouraged me in my stumbling efforts: Chris Boldt, Angela O'Donnell, Alan Berecka and Anne McCrady among others. Their work is worth finding and enjoying as is the music of Still on the Hill, two remarkable musicians who are hard at work saving and promoting the folk music tradition I loved as a young person. They led a song-writing workshop at the conference that was delightful. My life has been blessed once again by this festival, and I have come away refreshed and ready to tackle anew this solitary task of writing to which God seems intent on calling me.

Grace and Peace,
Donna Sue

Travels at home

We had the privilege of hosting a student from China during the Christmas break, and said goodbye to him yesterday afternoon as he moved on to spend the last few days of break with another family. The visit took me back to the days when our three sons were college age. He definitely lives in a different time zone. He was going to bed shortly before we got up each morning. We learned more about his country at dinner, and he was patient with our efforts to speak Chinese. We're learning the language for one of our beautiful grandsons, who is learning Chinese from his mom and other grandmother. We don't have many opportunties to practice here in Central Texas, so it was fun to try it out on Lan. I miss our conversations at dinner, and find myself thinking about this young man and how much his mother and father and grandparents must miss having him at home. Hopefully we'll get to see him again this spring, and perhaps meet some of the other Chinese students who are currently attending the university where I sometimes teach. What a blessing to get to know another child of God from the other side of the world. Shangdi bao you ni, Lan. Zai Jian!

Grace and Peace,
Donna Sue

Beginning Again

I'm not sure what it is about the artificial beginning of a New Year that seems to provide a clean slate, but it is nice to think about the next twelve months and what 2009 will bring. We are expecting another grandchild this spring, so more joy is in store. I'm hopeful that this year will include fewer losses than last year, when my husband lost both his parents, and I lost my dad. I will be celebrating a milestone birthday this year and will have to give some thought to how best to do that in a way that honors God for all the blessings I have enjoyed in this good life I have been granted. I'm thinking about a trip to Zambia with a group from my seminary, but we'll have to see how things go this spring as well as how expensive the trip will be. I'm sure as the year continues, it will rapidly start to feel less like that clean slate. Fortunately I know that God's promises are new every morning, so I don't have to wait until next year to begin again--something I have no doubt I'll want to do frequently as the year progresses.

Grace and Peace,
Donna Sue