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It has been a long, short week for me. So much stimulation. So much to think about…Christina Baldwin’s workshop, Phyllis Tickle’s talk on the Great Emergence, a new project and training with Sweeten Life Systems, and of course, the monthly A Small Group gathering at Peaslee. I’m feeling exhausted (and strangely energized) this morning. And, as if that wasn’t enough – we’ve switched to daylight savings time. Ugh!
How long will it take me assimilate all of this? Here is a piece.
After reviewing the materials and suggested process from Christina Baldwin's Story as Leadership workshop, I wrote several more stories. She asked us to think of turning points in our lives and our stories about those events.
This reminded me of the trauma I experienced at 9 years old, when our family moved to a new community. While moving is a trauma for many of us, it was compounded by the fact I had to leave my cousin, Diane. We had lived 1 block from each other for 6 years (2/3 of our lives).
How long will it take me assimilate all of this? Here is a piece.
After reviewing the materials and suggested process from Christina Baldwin's Story as Leadership workshop, I wrote several more stories. She asked us to think of turning points in our lives and our stories about those events.
This reminded me of the trauma I experienced at 9 years old, when our family moved to a new community. While moving is a trauma for many of us, it was compounded by the fact I had to leave my cousin, Diane. We had lived 1 block from each other for 6 years (2/3 of our lives).
We did almost everything together. Diane and I were like twins in many ways.
We have been separated for a long time now. She has lived in Germany for almost 20 years. Her visits home have been few and far between. And, we have not always been able to connect.
Despite all of that, when we are together with family, we have these side conversations. It is like we are 9 years old again. We connect at a heart level – like immediately. I’d walk away and think, that was weird – how did we do that?
Even my sister and I have to do some warm up to get to the hard stuff, but bam! Diane would dig right in telling me her hard stuff.
We have taken such different paths – it would seem we have less and less in common AND yet, there we are having these heartfelt conversations.
Even though I have not seen or heard from Diane in almost 2 years – since her mother’s funeral – I had this strong desire to share my story with Diane of our time together as children and the pain of leaving her in 3rd grade. My intent was to say this is how I’ve experienced the trauma – how did you cope with it?
We have taken such different paths – it would seem we have less and less in common AND yet, there we are having these heartfelt conversations.
Even though I have not seen or heard from Diane in almost 2 years – since her mother’s funeral – I had this strong desire to share my story with Diane of our time together as children and the pain of leaving her in 3rd grade. My intent was to say this is how I’ve experienced the trauma – how did you cope with it?
I send the email off on Saturday night. Sunday morning, there in my inbox was a reply from Diane.
“Lainie, you made me cry.” She went on to tell me that she has not contacted any of us since the funeral. She now realizes she has been hiding in Germany not dealing with her mother’s death. She then went on to tell me that she was in the midst of preparing to come to the USA for a 2 month visit. She had been dreading coming home and the feelings that will come. My email had broken something lose in her – she was now looking forward to coming home to see me and connecting with the rest of the family. She was glad I had written.
When she gets here, I will hold her hand and walk with her through the pain and memories and some laughter.
It is strange how things unfold – frequently in ways you would never imagine. For me, I think it was part of God’s plan. My part was to be obedient to the promptings.
Timing was everything in creating the opportunity for this story to unfold...
If I had not gone to the workshop in Columbus (and there are if’s before this)
If I had not been so moved by the workshop to write my stories
If I had not emailed the story to Diane
If Diane had not been flying home 2 days later….
I sent my story off to her with no expectation of recognition or reward. And yet, if I had not been obedient to the promptings…
My challenge is to maintain this current awareness of “promptings” and act upon them with wisdom.
More random chaos…
If I had not gone to the workshop in Columbus (and there are if’s before this)
If I had not been so moved by the workshop to write my stories
If I had not emailed the story to Diane
If Diane had not been flying home 2 days later….
I sent my story off to her with no expectation of recognition or reward. And yet, if I had not been obedient to the promptings…
My challenge is to maintain this current awareness of “promptings” and act upon them with wisdom.
More random chaos…
