Grab This Button
On two Tuesdays each month, I am a part of something called a Chalice Circle. I am borrowing this definition from the UU Church of Reading, MA website though that is not my sanctuary:
A Chalice Circle is a small group of people (5-10) who meet on a regular basis for the purpose of establishing bonds and fostering connection and caring; providing an avenue for personal growth and spiritual development. It is spiritual and personal reflection and learning at its most immediate.
We meet on a sort of semesterly basis, and this is my third semester. Of all the things I do in my life, of all the things that call me away from home in the evenings, this is the one thing that is truly for me, and that currently feeds my mind, heart, and soul.
Sounds pretty deep, eh? Alas, it's true.
I don't have much time to engage in intellectual or spiritual or emotional discussion these days, and when I do it is often mired in talk if inclusion and special education, and frankly, Down syndrome. I don't always want to talk about Down syndrome.
Many days I realize that the most words I have spoken have included "juice, all done, book, song, and crackers" on a sort of loop. I don't mean to suggest this is an unusual situation for the mother of an almost 2 and 3 year old (she's almost four, but until her birthday month I am making a conscious effort to just call her three because I think when I say "almost four" or "almost whatever age" when the kids are still entrenched in their...three-dom...it is unfair, and smacks of wishing time away. Which I don't want to do. But I digress...), but I figured I would state the facts.
At CC we are a mixed group. It's part of what I love so much about it. We are all different ages and we have all different life experiences. I love, especially because I do not have any living grandparents and do not have close relationships due to time and distance and illness with many other older folks in my life, that I have this oppotunity to learn and grow and discover life through another person's/other people's lens(es).
We talk about all sorts of things, but we often talk about our pasts. About our families--those we grew up with and those we go home to. We talk about difficult things, and happy things, but admittedly, a lot of difficult things. Tonight's theme was chaos. A theme the church has been exploring, and though it was loosely defined I learned so much about each person in that room. About the journeys they are taking in this life.
For me, I don't think I can function if I don't have connection. This blog serves me in that way on many levels. I am happy to say that I have met so many people through blogging, both solely online and in "real" life. However, it also frustrates me.
There is something about sitting in a room with another person and talking and listening that makes me feel alive.
And that's really all I have to say about it. I am so thankful for you all, but I am truly thankful for the people around me as well.
Grab This Button
On two Tuesdays each month, I am a part of something called a Chalice Circle. I am borrowing this definition from the UU Church of Reading, MA website though that is not my sanctuary:
A Chalice Circle is a small group of people (5-10) who meet on a regular basis for the purpose of establishing bonds and fostering connection and caring; providing an avenue for personal growth and spiritual development. It is spiritual and personal reflection and learning at its most immediate.
We meet on a sort of semesterly basis, and this is my third semester. Of all the things I do in my life, of all the things that call me away from home in the evenings, this is the one thing that is truly for me, and that currently feeds my mind, heart, and soul.
Sounds pretty deep, eh? Alas, it's true.
I don't have much time to engage in intellectual or spiritual or emotional discussion these days, and when I do it is often mired in talk if inclusion and special education, and frankly, Down syndrome. I don't always want to talk about Down syndrome.
Many days I realize that the most words I have spoken have included "juice, all done, book, song, and crackers" on a sort of loop. I don't mean to suggest this is an unusual situation for the mother of an almost 2 and 3 year old (she's almost four, but until her birthday month I am making a conscious effort to just call her three because I think when I say "almost four" or "almost whatever age" when the kids are still entrenched in their...three-dom...it is unfair, and smacks of wishing time away. Which I don't want to do. But I digress...), but I figured I would state the facts.
At CC we are a mixed group. It's part of what I love so much about it. We are all different ages and we have all different life experiences. I love, especially because I do not have any living grandparents and do not have close relationships due to time and distance and illness with many other older folks in my life, that I have this oppotunity to learn and grow and discover life through another person's/other people's lens(es).
We talk about all sorts of things, but we often talk about our pasts. About our families--those we grew up with and those we go home to. We talk about difficult things, and happy things, but admittedly, a lot of difficult things. Tonight's theme was chaos. A theme the church has been exploring, and though it was loosely defined I learned so much about each person in that room. About the journeys they are taking in this life.
For me, I don't think I can function if I don't have connection. This blog serves me in that way on many levels. I am happy to say that I have met so many people through blogging, both solely online and in "real" life. However, it also frustrates me.
There is something about sitting in a room with another person and talking and listening that makes me feel alive.
And that's really all I have to say about it. I am so thankful for you all, but I am truly thankful for the people around me as well.