Lesser known- but not unimportant.
You see, this particular garment needs others. I mean, have you ever tried lacing one of those things up all on your tod?
"Puuuuuuuuuuuuuull !!!!!!!!"
No- nor have I. But you don't have to be a Victorian Miss to know that without an obliging buddy- you're never going to get that support underneath the rest of the clobber.
Hmmmm- buddies....support.... y'see where I'm going with this? No subtlety to see here, move along....
In my very first post, I mentioned/ blamed the guys in our Huddle group for encouraging me/ telling me to quit stalling, already, and just start the damn blog! Well, I'm going to drop them in it again.
We'd been following a course on discipleship- leadership in the group, which has now come to a natural full stop. So we talked about the future of the group. Did we think we should quit meeting? Find another course? Start a penguin training class? Form a team of roller-skaters and train really hard for the Tokyo Olympics?
Well, we decided that we definitely wanted to carry on meeting ( although I'm still up for the penguin training...if anyone can get some penguins for us). We'd had a few people pop in and out of our group (other than us -1 leader, 2 ministers, 3 French Hens.... ok, I may be lying about the hens...) and were now left with Four 'core' members- two of the guys on whom I blame this blog- and another person of the she-male variety, meaning that there are now two men and two women.
So far I have restrained myself from suggesting that we form an Abba cover band.
So- what to do? We discussed what we could study, Bible- wise. Book study? Character study? Topic/ theme? All good ideas.
One thing comes back time and time again with this group- which is what makes it different, for me, than other groups I've been too whose purpose is very specific (Prayer group, Bible study, whatever).
It doesn't matter if we've followed a set programme, chosen random (by which I mean carefully thought out and Spirit-led, of course), topics, all met or just a couple of us, met once a week/ fortnight/ century..... the one factor that makes our group what it is, is (drumroll, please), support. It's the one place where we know we can share the good, the bad and the downright ug-er-ly and be assured that we're in the spiritual equivalent of Vegas.
What gets shared in the group- stays in the group.
That doesn't mean that I can't or haven't been able to share in other groups, or that others don't support each other. Rather, that our primary concern is a sharing of how we're getting on- a throwing into the pot of what's working, what's lifted us, what's causing us hassle, difficulties, pain or struggles. Victories and defeats, real or perceived..... we have the freedom to say how we feel and be honest (*gasp!*) about our failures and successes, worries and thoughts.
You know what else I really value about our group? That we're just ordinary people who want to be part of what an extraordinary God is doing.
This is turning into a far more waffly post than I intended- because something happened last night.
Don't get too excited- there wasn't an unscheduled visitation or a mass revival in my neighbourhood. In fact, it will seem incredibly 'meh'! (I can sense the disappointment in the Force!).
I haven't typed this post all in one sitting. I began it a while ago, then added a paragraph yesterday afternoon. Last night I went off to our Not-The-Huddle group.
Fortuitous.
There were three of us last night- myself and my two butch and manly co-conspirators (pay me later, guys!). We had our usual 'Soooo- how ya doin' ?' chat and one of the Butch And Manly Dudes (seriously- you can pay cash or use paypal), asked us to list attributes of Jesus. Not surprisingly, we came up with a decent list.
He then asked us to list attributes of the 'perfect church' (refrained from saying 'one that doesn't have me in it'!).
Again, not surprisingly, those turned out to be attributes of Jesus too.
So obvious and so simple but so easily forgotten.
Well, Other Butch And Manly Dude had been sharing a recent experience and about relaxing and going along with God rather than feeling the need to keep asking 'What do you want me to do?'
The connection was so obvious.
So we prayed- for the places where we are in our lives, for others and, mostly, for church. And that was the 'something' that happened. No bolts from the heavens. No voice saying 'Well done My Children' (nor, thankfully, 'Look, would you mind shutting up- I'm trying to watch The Big Bang Theory up here!'),
Nothing happened- but everything did. We were church. Real, proper church. Heartfelt, honest prayers that meant business. Now, it may sound weird- but I swear that there was a moment when something 'opened'...almost a release and, as Other Butch And Manly Dude said later, as if God was saying 'At last!'
It sounds like just another bunch of people praying- but we all felt the same peace- the same sense of quiet excitement and the same realisation that there had been something powerful in that room.
Cool, huh?
When we started to clear up and get ready to go, I stood and got a twinge in my leg. I have so many things wrong with me that it's only a matter of time before they put 'Syndrome' after my name- but I've had a particularly vicious spasm of pain that has grown more frequent and when it happens, it incapacitates me for a minute and leaves me breathless in how excruciating it is. The doctor hasn't been able to suggest anything that helps- so I've put up with it.
It used to only happen when I'm laying in bed- but recently it's taken hold at various points in the day and night and stops me sleeping.
Anywhoozle.... OBAMD reckoned we should pray. Both BAMDs decided that enough was enough- let's sort this out and pray they did.
There was nothing odd- no 'I feel the Spirit buuuuuuurning!!!!!!' moment. I felt no different at all.
(Except that the leg didn't actually hurt at that point)
We washed up the mugs and OBAMD gave me a lift home.
How was the leg?
It felt normal.
I went to bed- tried an experimental stretch (usually a sure-fire way to make my leg decide to throw a drama queen hissy fit).
Zilch.
I slept.
I woke up this morning.
Leg is acting like it's had a stiff talking to and has decided it had better behave itself.
Will it remain pain-free? Will another dose of prayer be needed?
Let's see shall we?
It was enough to give me respite when I so deperately needed it, that's for sure.
And THAT, ladles and jellyspoons of the jury, is why you need your Corset of Camaraderie. it's all very well going out into battle with your armour clanking away, but it's very chaffing and chilly on the skin without some support going on underneath. Something has to help hold you together under the big important stuff -that you know will be there when you've taken the armour off for a bit- or lost bits of it. Something to support you till you can put it back on or find it again.
Hey- you take the metaphor and run with it. Take what you will from it.
As for me- a big shout out to the Butch And Manly Corsets.
Well, we decided that we definitely wanted to carry on meeting ( although I'm still up for the penguin training...if anyone can get some penguins for us). We'd had a few people pop in and out of our group (other than us -1 leader, 2 ministers, 3 French Hens.... ok, I may be lying about the hens...) and were now left with Four 'core' members- two of the guys on whom I blame this blog- and another person of the she-male variety, meaning that there are now two men and two women.
So far I have restrained myself from suggesting that we form an Abba cover band.
So- what to do? We discussed what we could study, Bible- wise. Book study? Character study? Topic/ theme? All good ideas.
One thing comes back time and time again with this group- which is what makes it different, for me, than other groups I've been too whose purpose is very specific (Prayer group, Bible study, whatever).
It doesn't matter if we've followed a set programme, chosen random (by which I mean carefully thought out and Spirit-led, of course), topics, all met or just a couple of us, met once a week/ fortnight/ century..... the one factor that makes our group what it is, is (drumroll, please), support. It's the one place where we know we can share the good, the bad and the downright ug-er-ly and be assured that we're in the spiritual equivalent of Vegas.
What gets shared in the group- stays in the group.
That doesn't mean that I can't or haven't been able to share in other groups, or that others don't support each other. Rather, that our primary concern is a sharing of how we're getting on- a throwing into the pot of what's working, what's lifted us, what's causing us hassle, difficulties, pain or struggles. Victories and defeats, real or perceived..... we have the freedom to say how we feel and be honest (*gasp!*) about our failures and successes, worries and thoughts.
You know what else I really value about our group? That we're just ordinary people who want to be part of what an extraordinary God is doing.
This is turning into a far more waffly post than I intended- because something happened last night.
Don't get too excited- there wasn't an unscheduled visitation or a mass revival in my neighbourhood. In fact, it will seem incredibly 'meh'! (I can sense the disappointment in the Force!).
I haven't typed this post all in one sitting. I began it a while ago, then added a paragraph yesterday afternoon. Last night I went off to our Not-The-Huddle group.
Fortuitous.
There were three of us last night- myself and my two butch and manly co-conspirators (pay me later, guys!). We had our usual 'Soooo- how ya doin' ?' chat and one of the Butch And Manly Dudes (seriously- you can pay cash or use paypal), asked us to list attributes of Jesus. Not surprisingly, we came up with a decent list.
He then asked us to list attributes of the 'perfect church' (refrained from saying 'one that doesn't have me in it'!).
Again, not surprisingly, those turned out to be attributes of Jesus too.
So obvious and so simple but so easily forgotten.
Well, Other Butch And Manly Dude had been sharing a recent experience and about relaxing and going along with God rather than feeling the need to keep asking 'What do you want me to do?'
The connection was so obvious.
So we prayed- for the places where we are in our lives, for others and, mostly, for church. And that was the 'something' that happened. No bolts from the heavens. No voice saying 'Well done My Children' (nor, thankfully, 'Look, would you mind shutting up- I'm trying to watch The Big Bang Theory up here!'),
Nothing happened- but everything did. We were church. Real, proper church. Heartfelt, honest prayers that meant business. Now, it may sound weird- but I swear that there was a moment when something 'opened'...almost a release and, as Other Butch And Manly Dude said later, as if God was saying 'At last!'
It sounds like just another bunch of people praying- but we all felt the same peace- the same sense of quiet excitement and the same realisation that there had been something powerful in that room.
Cool, huh?
When we started to clear up and get ready to go, I stood and got a twinge in my leg. I have so many things wrong with me that it's only a matter of time before they put 'Syndrome' after my name- but I've had a particularly vicious spasm of pain that has grown more frequent and when it happens, it incapacitates me for a minute and leaves me breathless in how excruciating it is. The doctor hasn't been able to suggest anything that helps- so I've put up with it.
It used to only happen when I'm laying in bed- but recently it's taken hold at various points in the day and night and stops me sleeping.
Anywhoozle.... OBAMD reckoned we should pray. Both BAMDs decided that enough was enough- let's sort this out and pray they did.
There was nothing odd- no 'I feel the Spirit buuuuuuurning!!!!!!' moment. I felt no different at all.
(Except that the leg didn't actually hurt at that point)
We washed up the mugs and OBAMD gave me a lift home.
How was the leg?
It felt normal.
I went to bed- tried an experimental stretch (usually a sure-fire way to make my leg decide to throw a drama queen hissy fit).
Zilch.
I slept.
I woke up this morning.
Leg is acting like it's had a stiff talking to and has decided it had better behave itself.
Will it remain pain-free? Will another dose of prayer be needed?
Let's see shall we?
It was enough to give me respite when I so deperately needed it, that's for sure.
And THAT, ladles and jellyspoons of the jury, is why you need your Corset of Camaraderie. it's all very well going out into battle with your armour clanking away, but it's very chaffing and chilly on the skin without some support going on underneath. Something has to help hold you together under the big important stuff -that you know will be there when you've taken the armour off for a bit- or lost bits of it. Something to support you till you can put it back on or find it again.
Hey- you take the metaphor and run with it. Take what you will from it.
As for me- a big shout out to the Butch And Manly Corsets.
