"So, three chaplains and a school librarian are sitting in a Prius. . . " Definitely, a small, independent movie, at best!
Anyway, that really happened. And, boy, am I glad that it did.
Because my pal Jeanne (left) offered to drive me to the First Plymouth Church Women's Retreat at Spring Creek Prairie that morning a handful years ago, I got to meet Jen Davidson (east of me) and Cathy Regush (now way north but then, behind the camera) and learn about thin spaces, to boot.
That said, it was a bit intimidating to realize that I was the only person in the car who wasn't a chaplain. Unless Charlie counts. . .
Who knows? Maybe it was an intervention and I'm just now realizing it.
Flash forward to this afternoon, when I attended Jen's most awesome ordination into the United Church of Christ (Midwest chapter). And then back up into yesterday, when I ate pho with recently retired minister and current friend Nancy Erickson.
Yeah, any way you look at it, I'm keeping some pretty great company these days. And they are definitely earning their keep.
But these holy rollers are hardly the end of my fortunate story. I am surrounded by terrific friends and family--religious and irreligious, warts and all--each of whom makes my life infinitely richer. To a person, they are stunningly tolerant of my annoying habits. In addition to overlooking my outfits, my hair, my ill-timed laughs, they are also funny and smart and patient in a way that Job could not even imagine.
In a time when scanning the headlines feels dangerous and disheartening, it's good to remind ourselves of the peeps we've gathered into our corners, those patient, good, brave folks who call us "family" or "friend" and keep showing up, despite everything.
They are, it turns out, our superpower. As for me? I am swimming in wonder, woman.
