After four years, I think I’m finally beginning to understand the genius of the Fall Gathering at Glorieta: it is relationship. Birthed as a helpful balance to a movement increasingly represented by large and very popular national conventions, it was started as a quiet spot in the schedule for folks to get together to foster friendships and to kindly collaborate on the spiritual formation of one another as well as a chance to gently push one another in thinking and practice and artistic expression. It was something for some undefined ‘us’, which was simultaneously meant as a gift to some undefined ‘them’. The idea was to take something great and give it away, and it is magical.
I’m learning all of this the hard way, I guess, as I realize how much I’ve been given over these years, and as I endeavor to give something back. This year, I may have done too much, or not done it very well– my introverted self was weary much of the week, as I did some coordination of shopping and food, and as I led a conversation about grief and faith. All of which was enjoyable, and rewarding, but which ultimately took me away from the center of things. I got so distracted doing stuff that I missed connecting with my old friends, and quite nearly avoided making the new friendships that pop up in places like this. Fortunately, at the eleventh hour I was saved by friends new and old, and have come away from another Gathering feeling very full, and very fortunate.
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Hi — I have never done the Glorieta trip, but have always wanted to be there. Maybe next year. Sounds awesome.
Where do you do church?
It was good connecting with you too. I’m glad we had our eleventh hour conversation.