I've joined a noon hour Bible study group for women, most of whom work in the downtown area. For the first time in several years, rather than talking about faith to larger groups, I'm connecting weekly, face-to-face, with a small group. As a member, not a leader.
We're three weeks in now, studying three biblical women, Elizabeth, Mary and Anna. Each lady played a key role in the Christmas story. Two millennia later, their lives are enriching our faith as we anticipate another 21st Century celebration of Jesus' birth.
Nine of us met today. Squeezed ourselves into a small carpeted staff room, overstuffed with understuffed couches and chairs. Brought lunches of salad and gluten-free pizza, bran muffins and banana, salad and sandwiches. Spilled full glasses of water on the floor (well, I did, anyway) and discussed the Bible between bites.
It's early days. I barely know most of their names, though they seem to know mine. "I'm Kathleen," I said to one woman last week. She smiled. "I know who you are. Welcome here."
By this study's end, just before Christmas, I'm sure I'll know all of them, too. They're a friendly bunch and we meet in cozy quarters. Hip to hip, some. Close enough to smell each other's shampoo. To share pizza slices and the same study book.
But no keyboard, microphone or script. And no time to rehearse one's words. That's the hardest part for me.
I had some apprehension, before joining the other ladies. Sometimes it's hard to let the person who lives behind my public words off her leash. What if I don't come up to their expectations? Do they even have any? It's not that I'm not what others read or hear of me. It's just that between (and above and beyond) those lines, I'm as simple and ordinary as a potato. Opinionated and sometimes clumsy to boot.
But over the years I've discovered something that lessens my hesitancy and frees me to be myself. I've learned that all of us live between the lines we let others see. That even though most of us are afraid to let that person out, richness waits when we do.
One of the other women has shared deep insights I love. Another has delighted me with her grasp of scripture, proved by her tattered Bible. Several have revealed a beautiful transparency of spirit. And our leader, a spunky retired woman, has cracked me up more than once with her self-effacing humour.
Our differences could otherwise separate us, but we share the important things of our common Christian faith: We love the Lord. We want to make a connection with God's Word. We seek to thread our faith through our lives in ways that impact others for good. We are sisters in Christ and as we connect he meets with us. We are The Noon Hour Gals.
Got a workplace? A staff room and a noon hour off? Put it to good use and grow something rich.
