Two Worlds Colliding

We pulled into the drive overlooking the lovely Texas hill country. The sun was beginning to set. As we walked down the path towards the lovely home, my body relaxed looking forward to an intimate evening of music. Many warm faces greeted us from our amazing faith community. Gratitude filled my heart as I thought how much comfort and love I feel from these new people in my life.

We scouted out two lovely aisle seats and then walked outside explore the natural beauty. We grabbed a delicious cup of peach tea before heading back to our seats. The room was intimate holding about 100 people -big beamed ceilings, lovely stone fireplace – candles burning. My soul settled deep into the seat.

As I scanned the room I noticed a face that looked vaguely familiar. I was going through my internal Rolodex. No she was not a Journeyer. Slowly, I realized that she was from another part of my life. Then it hit me, Sally Smith. An ordinary woman- she too had aged over the 15 years since I had seen her. In many ways Sally Smith was just a passing person in my life. Our paths probably only crossed over a 3 month period. Sally and I participated in a Christian Women’s Group in the early 90’s or late 80’s – not really sure.

Here is what I do remember. Sally was real, authentic, and messy. I was instantly attracted to something in her soul. She wrestled and questioned and I was entranced. Was this really allowed in The Church of Incarnation - the very traditional parish where my mother was raised and married, where the people did not pass the peace because it was invasive. Yes- according to Sally this was allowed and I was in!

Weeks of the group proceeded- stuff was shared in that group that still amazes me. One of the most uptight women I’d ever met- perfectly coiffed hair, tight plaid jacket- began to unpack all the things that were hiding under her neatly polished exterior. Sally as our group leader held no judgment to the rigidity or to the desperate need to let it go. At twenty-six or twenty-seven I felt like I had been allowed into the real show and I was fascinated.

I was a bit of an emotional later bloomer. At 27, I had not separated emotionally. I followed the rules and lived closely to the script. Our group leader, Sally, honed in on me like a laser beam. Gently, she encouraged me. I left those weekly meetings wondering who I was and how I really wanted to fit into this world. Internally, I started questioning all the walls that were holding me in.

I saw Sally a few times individually. I don’t’ recall much about the session except that I felt freed to begin to ask the question-who am I? No- I did not want to spend my life dancing to anyone else’s song. I had absolutely no idea how to find my song. However, sitting in that office across from Sally one thing was for sure – I wanted to step out and try to dance.

Sally moved away. Within a year we left Texas and moved to New York. As I tried to figure out who was this girl in the mirror my life, my dance was clumsy- I fell more often than I soared- but slowly an ever-dim rhythm began to beat.

As I approached Sally to re-introduce myself– she looked a little blank and then I could see the recognition in her face. She recalled how meaningful our little group had been. She and her husband also just moved back to Texas after years of living out of state. Her children that played with Mary in the church nursery are now grown. She inquired about my little girl. My little girl grew up into an amazing young woman. I had another baby years later I said. Hardly a baby now- but so much moves and changes in 15 years. Her husband joined the conversation. In a weird twist of fate he too had gone to Episcopal seminary in the last 10 years and ended up leaving with deep wounds as well. They asked the inevitable – where do you go to church? I tried to describe Journey- I felt myself back pedaling about why we had left the mothership. She interrupted and said we’d love to visit there with you some Sunday. Without words we acknowledged that life with the mothership had been complicated. After chatting for about 10 minutes, we hugged, really hugged- honoring a spiritual connection of the past.

I woke up this morning wondering if we will ever meet again or if in that one glorious night with perfect music my two worlds collided into beautiful harmony.