Companions Friday Five

The RevGals Friday Five:

Dante had Virgil as a guide. Before he had younger siblings, my oldest child had an imaginary friend named Patrick. Betsy had Tacy. Laura Ingalls depended on her brindle bulldog, Jack. All of them were companions on the way.

As we take the beginning steps of our journey through Lent, who would we take as a companion? Name five people, real or imaginary, you might like to have with you as guide or guardian or simply good friend.


Five people? Only five? I'll refer to yesterday's post if you're unclear as to why that poses a challenge to me.

I attended (most of) a conference on formation ministries today. The retreat leader asked us to reflect on the people who had greatly impacted our faith formation. It was a lovely question, and, even more lovely for me because of the top five people I would name, three of them are taking part in the conference. I really enjoyed that moment, realizing how blessed I am to have these women still in my life. They were, and still are, companions on my journey because this journey would simply be different if they had not been along for the ride.

So, I will expand my companion list today beyond those women, and dream a bit more. For this Lent? This year?

Anne LaMott - She'll make an appearance in Lent for me, as one of our book reviews at church will be about Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. But this year, I'd love to have her pointing out the humor, the grace, the moments of God in my life because she makes me laugh.

Saint Clare: Because I don't think she'd put up with much bs.

Luke: Not the Gospeller. My Luke. I just like to include him to remind myself of how lucky I am that this one isn't imaginary. Also, he makes me laugh and doesn't put with bs.

Amy & Emily: Better known as The Indigo Girls. I'm making music part of my Lenten practices, inlcuding picking up my guitar more often (which isn't saying much, but anyway...) How awesome would it be to have them helping me, singing with me, teaching me little tricks, talking and drinking coffee and and and...

My seminary friends, who are scattered far & wide: Today, I'm especially missing that community... games, lunches, movies, Gilmore Girls, road trips, late night discussions about universal salvation. How we ever found time for class, I'll never know. But whether it was sorting through discernment questions, slogging through tough readings for class, preparing for a chapel service, or debating the finer points of leadership (also known as watching The Apprentice) - community was never far away. I miss that, and I miss you all.

Technically, thats way more than five people. But again, I refer you to the previous post. 80% extroverted, people!

Self-Reflection

So, this isn't surprising enough to even be reflective, but...

You Are 80% Extrovert, 20% Introvert

You are as outgoing as they come The life of the party, you're friends with everyone You're a people person, and you are quite the entertainer You love being around a crowd and acting spontaneously

Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

Seriously though, I think this introvert/extrovert stuff plays into who blogs, and what they blog, and why. I tend to blog as yet another way to sustain friendships and community. I started this blog because it was something a bunch of seminary friends were doing, and it was another way to get to know people that I already knew face-to-face. Happily, thats expanded in all kinds of ways. I still read a blogs from tons of seminary friends, but also blogs of folks I've never met and don't know their names. Still, I've never quite settled into the idea of processing in writing, on cyber-paper. But here I am, working on a new skill.

But still... could that quiz have been less surprising?

Invitation

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great
devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and
it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them
by a season of penitence and fasting.
This is season of Lent provided
a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy
Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of
notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful
were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to
the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation
was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set
forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all
Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the
observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God's holy Word.

I read these words twice today, once at noon and again at 7 pm. And this is part of my response. I plan to use this space to support my meditating on readings, on ministry, on life in general. The extrovert in me needs the space - outside of my head - to think. I've spiffed it up (or toned it down?) to match the liturgical season, as a reminder to myself that using this tool is part of Lenten discipline this year. So, I don't want to get your hopes up by promise daily postings. However, I will be here with great frequency during Lent, and perhaps even daily. I'll look forward to seeing you, and getting to know you again. Unless, of course, your Lenten disciplines include fasting from the blogiverse, in which case, may you be blessed til Easter.