A circle of women -- how do they connect?
Dear Reader,
As I reflect on the opening night of Among Women’s spring retreat, this is my question: How do YOU do “How do you do?”s? What gets you talking? Can you remember a time when you instantly connected with someone? How did that happen?
I love the following quotation from C.S. Lewis’s book, The Four Loves: “Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one'” (78).
Louella
The Among Women ladies have been thinking and talking about their own spheres. A new theme that emerged at the third retreat was the overlapping of the spheres. It is nearly impossible to represent only one sphere. For example, a woman can be a widow AND a mother, maybe younger, maybe older. OR she could be a widow AND a woman without children. She could be a career woman OR a Stay-At-Home-Mom. The possibilities are endless.
Carla
Sabrina
Think about how you fit in more than one sphere. The overlapping is where we begin to understand each other and grow friendships.
This was pictured in a game Lynette led the ladies in on Friday night. Each woman had a chance to ask a question to another woman in the circle. A ball of yarn was passed from speaker to speaker, following the conversation around the room.
Mim and Martha appreciate Louella and her laughter.
By the time everyone had spoken, a star-like web connected each woman in the circle. They had shared personal feelings, funny stories, and welcoming remarks.
Though each woman represented a different sphere, they were connected.
Questions, answers, and shared experiences connect the women in this circle.
Still to the Reader,
How is it with you? Are all of your friends in the exact same life-stage as you? How does it enrich you to step outside of your sphere for friendships? How have you been surprised by instant connections with unlikely people?
