Love, grace and identity

We had taken a break in our group last week.  One woman was preparing for a relative's funeral (one who shouldn't have died); a man had suffered the deaths of two friends in the space of a week; another woman's coworker just discovered her daughter had the most aggressive form of leukemia there is and would be facing over a year in chemo, with little guarantee of a successful outcome. 

Others brought heavy hearts over other stuff happening in their lives.  So we took a breath and prayed and worshipped, setting aside the agenda for the evening.

This week, others were sick, others didn't show, and we were left with three.  We've been delaying our budget conversation so that all could be there, and we could expose this often very private part of our lives to everyone, and experience grace.  The three of us motored on, and were touched, saddened and encouraged by God's work in our lives despite bad decisions, even worse circumstances, and whatever the economy and the enemy had to throw at us.

I came home and decided to watch at least a part of Glee.  The main storyline was about Kurt, an openly gay student, and the hardship he faces due to bullying.  Yet the story ballooned out, and before I knew it, it was about how we all yearn for love and acceptance.  Kurt is stunned by an unexpected kiss at one point; he says, "I've never been kissed; not, at least, on purpose like that."  Another character spoke of the loneliness of following the path she felt she was uniquely gifted to go on, yet how challenging it was to find a man to share her journey. 

Each story, ours in the group included, had someone who came alongside the character, offering hope, encouragement, and, beyond all else, connection. 

Above all else, those are things I really long for in my own life, and in our group.  May it be so...