Spiritual Lessons- 3rd Annual Scarf Sister Reunion

I am one of the sisters of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf. The third annual reunion was planned for October 10th through the 14th and was in full swing as ladies from varying states safely joined together in Michigan when I made contact with them through Skype. I had not made plans to attend this year’s reunion knowing I was on a distant road where other directives were taking me two thousand miles west. Unfortunately those directives did not meld together as hoped and I traveled to Colorado to pursue other options, but those options, too, would not bring me the peace I felt necessary to carry them through.

 Lying in bed Wednesday night October 10th with tears in my eyes and a heart burdened, shattered, broken beyond repair or so it always seems. Tossing and turning in complete turmoil, not knowing which way to go, which road to follow, what voice to listen to; twisting, turning to and fro beneath the freshly laundered bed sheets, the lights of the parking lot casting dim shadows in the room, the wretchedness of my life filled my heart with anguish, my hands clasped in prayer, praying against the hopelessness that was again invading every delicate space of my mind.

 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, 

And whose hope is the LORD.  

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, 

Which spreads out its roots by the river, 

And will not fear when heat comes; 

But its leaf will be green, 

And will not be anxious in the year of drought, 

Nor will cease from yielding fruit. 

 Jeremiah 17: 8 

Wrestling in my own thoughts, wondering how the simple life I had sold my soul to and for was gone, forever gone. I will always wonder why and how it became so complicated and why and how the continuity, those bonds of expansion and change and lasting growth…. Died. Awake with no sleep, I heard the coffee maker downstairs and my friend moving and joined her for a quiet morning chat. Discussing the possibilities before me; each one offered uncertainity and an almost paralyzing sense of fear. I took time out to call my sister. I took time out to talk to two ladies of the Sisterhood as they drove into Northern Michigan where the lodge was located. I took time to humbly, gratefully, thankfully seek/accept housing from Pat for a season of my life…I let certain words speak to me….understanding full well, I was empty. I knew I had very little, no I knew I had practically nothing to give to anyone. I opened my devotional for the day and let the words soothe and quiet the despair….

“Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  

in everything give thanks; 

for this is the will of God 

in Christ Jesus for you.  

 Do not quench the Spirit.” 

1^st Thessalonians 5:16-19

I packed my suitcase, packed the car and settled into the idea that I would be in Michigan to fellowship with, sing with, eat with, and mostly hug and love my sisters in the Lord on Saturday if I left early enough the next morning. I sat with my  friends Thursday evening, listened to the vice presidential debate, ate pizza and enjoyed my last evening in Colorado.
  
Friday morning 3:30 on the road. I had company along the trip. Several friends called my cell or sent me text to keep me company. My daughter called to chat occasionally or just to check in. Friday evening I checked into my hotel and let my sisters in Michigan know where I was, when I might be arriving the next day.   I thought about each one of them, how I met them and the many times during the year I have called upon them to pray for me or my family; They are not invisible or imaginary internet friends, they are a group of the most loving, caring, Christ-centered women I have come to love as my sisters. I cannot begin to tell the number of times I have experienced feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness and they have been there to encourage, to lift me up, to pray for me, to love me through a difficult time…Saturday morning before I left my hotel, my devotional scripture read: 

2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12 

“ Therefore we also pray always for you 

that our God would count you worthy of this calling, 

and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness

 and the work of faith with power,   

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 

may be glorified in you, and you in Him, 

according to the grace 

of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I arrived at the lodge Saturday late afternoon and was welcomed by Trish. Actually she rescued me out of  a mapquest error that led me into the deep woods of the north woods of northern Michigan, certainly bear country or wolves or coyotes;  it was a tad bit un-nerving, scarey to say the least, so seeing her car, hugging her was two fold for me. We settled in the great room of the lodge and chatted away the few hours until the rest of the group returned from an afternoon outing. My time with Trish was precious beyond any words I can type here….she is a beautiful example of a woman who loves and serves the Lord not only in her speech, but in the lives she touches and the love she gives to others. 

Once all the group had returned to the lodge, there was a devotional, communion, singing, fellowship, laughter, eating and time to talk. It was a sweet time for me late in the evening to have the most precious ladies in the world surround me with listening ears, shoulders to lean on and cry on, with an offering of hugs and friendship; They blessed me with wisdom, biblical truth, understanding and a whole lot of love.
Sunday, the day of departure, I was reading Psalm 84:5, 11 

“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, 

who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, 

For the Lord God is our light and protector. 

He gives us grace and glory.

No good thing will the Lord withhold 

from those who do what is right” 

As I re-visited the journey I’ve been on, not just this particular road trip across country, but also in my life journey, I thought of how much joy I have been able to still carry in my heart despite the many disappointments and through some of my deepest sorrows. WE all have those times, none of us is exempt. It is not the things of this world that drive me to happiness or unhappiness: I am well aware there is peace to be found in just knowing Him and in staying on the path of living my life in His perfect will. I haven’t always taken the right road, haven’t always stopped when I should have, haven’t always  navigated the corners as smoothly as I could have . But He has been beside me and He has brought others to me when the traveling became too treacherous and more than I could handle alone…..and what a blessing, a true gift from Him to me He gave me …..

 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf…. 

3rd annual reunion