Arriving late on a Friday afternoon, five couples and a single lady parked their out-of-state cars in a lot behind Main Street, took a backdoor into a business building, and climbed the steps to "The Stitchery Retreat."
If anyone would have been watching, they would have noted family resemblances--two brothers and four sisters, all siblings with their spouses (not resembling anyone) gathered for the weekend. A great room greeted them at the top of the steps complete with mini kitchen, dining area and living space with a large screen TV, several comfy couches, and easy chairs. Beyond the great room a long hallway allowed admittance to several bedrooms all complete with bathrooms--towels, shampoo and hair dryers provided.
Liking what they saw, they returned to their cars and unloaded suitcases, snacks, drinks, and games and settled in for the weekend. Instead of "stitching," they would be re-connecting, reminiscing, telling a good joke or two while remembering advice given from one of them--no conversations involving politics!
With the following day being "Ridiculous Days" in the small community, the ladies headed out the next morning to find the best bargains. Going in and out of the shops on Main, the shopping was enjoyable; however, the togetherness was what mattered. Exclamations of what the grandchildren might enjoy, the change in house wares, and memories of past get-togethers were shared while the men relaxed at The Retreat--all of us starting to call it "home."
Saturday evening, we attended church filling up parts of two rows. The pastor's sermon, "Outsiders Now In" was from Ephesians 2: 11 - 22. "So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. . . ." Although the Bible referenced acceptance of the Gentiles, I could not help but compare it to our situation that weekend--" . . . you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God . . . with Christ himself as the cornerstone."
After church, we suppered together giving thanks for the food and togetherness. Sweet corn, pizza, strawberry pie, Buster Bar Dessert--favorites from the past with a new one thrown in. Would Mom have ever served pizza with sweet corn? Each comment brought out another memory--a first cigarette offered by an older, wiser? sister; getting in trouble for changing a grade on a brother's report card, picking the neighbor's flowers and then selling them to others. . .
Although memories shared, we were living in the present, re-connecting, re-discovering each other and ourselves. With long trips awaiting, everyone headed home (their individual dwelling places) after hugs and kisses on Sunday morning.
No matter where we go, where we settle or dwell and for whatever period of time, God is there with us.
"The eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms." Duet. 33:27
Sometime this summer my husband and I are headed to a favorite fishing spot--our dwelling place for a few days. And, you know what? God will be there.
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