A Reflection on Convergence 2008
by Carley Friesen
A coming together…
That’s what this event is for me.
A coming together of the most amazing women ever (tall! – did you notice how many tall women were there?!);
A coming together of dreams and visions from many people and communities – in the northwest and the world;
A coming together of new energies, creating new life, sort of a seed-planting and germinating time;
A coming together of artists in word, music, media, painting, sculpting, dancing … and community-creating;
A coming together of women and the Spirit of God.
And when the Spirit moves upon the water, new life is created – new life in our souls, new life in our communities, new life in the Kingdom of God.
Some highlights –
I love the casual beginning – taking over, quite literally, a whole room at Edgefield’s Powerhouse Pub. As we, amoeba-like, incorporated each table as it was vacated, we gave our own energy to that place – filled it with friends, old and new, laughter, beginnings of adventures.
The small group time of sharing the first day was just right. We had an opportunity to hear the stories of women who had come to share this time together. Just getting connected in a deep way, listening intently to each woman’s story, was such a privilege. Through these five stories, I got connected with the whole group in a way I had not anticipated, because I had a particular bond with a few.
There were so many opportunities to follow your own soul’s yearnings – whether it was yoga movement of the body to open the spirit, or learning how to party dance; whether it was the privacy of spiritual direction, or the community of talking with other writers; whether it was taking pictures or just reveling in being watched by the big-eyed, taking-it-all-in murals of Edgefield’s ballroom.
It was great to hear the impromptu responses from those among us to the questions burning in our souls.
Young and old together found a place, one place, one community.
Sunday worship with music, dancing, and stories – it captured my heart completely. God is on the move, doing a new thing in our world, wherever we are willing to let ourselves be the conduit of God’s powerful love. I witnessed it over and over again.
And a time like this give new courage to the spirit of women who sometimes feel isolated, not knowing where to go with what the Spirit is saying. Women (and men) are stepping out. What a privilege to encourage sisters and to watch new life bloom. To watch the spark of light go on in so many eyes!
Yes, God is moving among us. Converging with our spirits.
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