Touching Cloaks
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
Beth found herself humming. It was always like this for her as
she drove home after her get-together with Pam and Sue. Such a
quiet little mystery! Six years now and it was always like this
as she drove home.
All day long -- all month too -- she had worked hard. Seeing
Frank off to work and their four sons off to school, groceries
bought, then down to the office -- check the fax, finish her
report and home again just in time to hear her sons' stories as
they burst through the back door. She had cooked a good supper,
too. Frank really enjoyed it! At least none of the boys had to go
out tonight! Hockey. Basketball. Music lessons and space club.
Not one of them tonight: what a miracle. Frank was determined
this would be Beth's night out. He cheerfully took on overseeing
the clean-up, the homework and bedtime routine as soon as supper
was through so she could leave.
What was it about these get-togethers? How did they weave
their magic so well year after year? What made them special?
The get-togethers started with Pam's invitation to a cup of
herb tea when Beth first moved in: a cup of tea just to get to
know each other now they were neighbors. Beth remembered Pam
taking her coat that very first time and hanging it caringly in
the closet. That is how it began. Then Pam eventually moved
across the city closer to the hospital where she was an
administrator. The gathering-for-tea simply moved with Pam. In
time Sue joined them, once Pam's co-worker but now in nursing at
another hospital.
Over the years the women gathered. They shared their joys and
stresses. Beth's sons' colds that turned into pneumonia
(what a scare!); Pam's struggles to deal with a boss who demanded
more than her work (the creep! when he was fired they
celebrated); Sue's long on-again-off-again courtship and marriage
to Richard, then her divorce.
Sometimes a video or event would be their focus but external
topics were rare in their conversations.
"Funny!" Beth nodded as if in disbelief. Month after month
there was always something worthwhile to share from right within
their own lives. Each of them hallowed that sharing. No gossip.
No games. No posturing. Just seeking out each other, knowing
they'd be there, then being with each other. Listening and
supporting each other. Helping the other make her way through the
good life they knew they all had.
How she cherished their time together: drawing on their
strength, giving of her own to them even when she thought she had
none left to give. The occasional muffin. Maybe a picnic. But
always the get-together so mysteriously full of its life-
restoring, life-giving power.
Thirty days of crowded living: lives filled with so many
different people, events and commitments all jostling rightfully
for their attention. Then this one evening together, a brief
moment to connect, to empower one another and to draw peace from
each other and just enough healing for the next 30 crowded days.
Beth found herself humming. It was always like this -- driving
home from Pam's. Beth breathed a wee prayer -- once again -- of
deep thanks.
she drove home after her get-together with Pam and Sue. Such a
quiet little mystery! Six years now and it was always like this
as she drove home.
All day long -- all month too -- she had worked hard. Seeing
Frank off to work and their four sons off to school, groceries
bought, then down to the office -- check the fax, finish her
report and home again just in time to hear her sons' stories as
they burst through the back door. She had cooked a good supper,
too. Frank really enjoyed it! At least none of the boys had to go
out tonight! Hockey. Basketball. Music lessons and space club.
Not one of them tonight: what a miracle. Frank was determined
this would be Beth's night out. He cheerfully took on overseeing
the clean-up, the homework and bedtime routine as soon as supper
was through so she could leave.
What was it about these get-togethers? How did they weave
their magic so well year after year? What made them special?
The get-togethers started with Pam's invitation to a cup of
herb tea when Beth first moved in: a cup of tea just to get to
know each other now they were neighbors. Beth remembered Pam
taking her coat that very first time and hanging it caringly in
the closet. That is how it began. Then Pam eventually moved
across the city closer to the hospital where she was an
administrator. The gathering-for-tea simply moved with Pam. In
time Sue joined them, once Pam's co-worker but now in nursing at
another hospital.
Over the years the women gathered. They shared their joys and
stresses. Beth's sons' colds that turned into pneumonia
(what a scare!); Pam's struggles to deal with a boss who demanded
more than her work (the creep! when he was fired they
celebrated); Sue's long on-again-off-again courtship and marriage
to Richard, then her divorce.
Sometimes a video or event would be their focus but external
topics were rare in their conversations.
"Funny!" Beth nodded as if in disbelief. Month after month
there was always something worthwhile to share from right within
their own lives. Each of them hallowed that sharing. No gossip.
No games. No posturing. Just seeking out each other, knowing
they'd be there, then being with each other. Listening and
supporting each other. Helping the other make her way through the
good life they knew they all had.
How she cherished their time together: drawing on their
strength, giving of her own to them even when she thought she had
none left to give. The occasional muffin. Maybe a picnic. But
always the get-together so mysteriously full of its life-
restoring, life-giving power.
Thirty days of crowded living: lives filled with so many
different people, events and commitments all jostling rightfully
for their attention. Then this one evening together, a brief
moment to connect, to empower one another and to draw peace from
each other and just enough healing for the next 30 crowded days.
Beth found herself humming. It was always like this -- driving
home from Pam's. Beth breathed a wee prayer -- once again -- of
deep thanks.
