2 hours 4 questions 6 women and I get to cook for you!

On 7th December 2010 I wrote in my journal that I dreamed of having planned evenings when I could cook for women and we could sit around a table and share our lives, our hopes, our struggles and our individual stories. Opportunities for encouragement, inclusion and authenticity; times to learn from each other.

How long have I been pondering this?!

I didn't want it to be about the food, although it would be fun to prepare, no, it was really about the conversation.....

Meaningful and straight  through the veneer.....

Were there women out there who would come? Not to talk about their shopping trips, their holiday or what little Jack did to his sister that afternoon....I wanted women who longed for something more; to make their lives count for something.

Daring to dream....Were they out there, these women? Were they living it? 

And then, this week I heard about IF:Table:

2 hours
4 questions
6 women

Sort of loosely based around these verses (hence the numbers)

Acts 2:46

New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

IF Gathering was a recent womens conference in Texas (just Google it if you're interested in the background story)

However, out of it came this same idea of women meeting in someone's home once a month to discuss 4 questions, prepared in advance, to download. Women across the world discussing the same subjects on the same evening, or at least during the same week, if possible!

The challenge was there! Right let's have a go, could be fun, people would know what they were coming to! They could decline if they wanted.

Many ideas of how my evening could look start sparking off in my head, straight away!

So, here we go: Explore 2014.....12 meals, 60 women ...better start thinking about invitations!

Any questions?!



 Added :17/03/14...... Date is fixed! First  If:Table is on 4th  April! We're off! Lots of positive responses, so looks as if I'll be inviting  ladies throughout the year.

Retreat to advance?

I held the envelope tightly as I slid it through the pillar box, then I let go and screamed (quietly....ish)  Thankfully no one around as I turned to glance over my shoulder!

The deed was done, my deposit paid,  decision made:

SILENT RETREAT booked...

6 days of no talking, except for 45 minutes with a spiritual director every morning.

Explore......

May 2014: to be continued........

Responses from others have been wide ranging;

"I would get seriously depressed if I did that"

"Heaven"

"Sheer bliss"

"This is hilarious!   You, not talking for a 6 days?!"

"Jealous!" 

"Why can't you just book out time at home and save the money?"

"Can't think of anything worse!"

The application form was straightforward enough, well, except the "What Religious denonmination?" question. I always struggle with that one... Opted for "Christian" in the end..."Trying to be a follower of Jesus" sounded a bit weird, although I know what I mean!!

The form continued:

" State briefly what are you hoping for from this retreat?"   

Good question .....puts pen down and ponders....needs to be succinct...I am not succinct...

To learn to listen
To explore my place in the Church family
To practise solitude

oh and a heap of subheadings which I don't write down....

It is timely, it is an exciting year, this year of exploration....sometimes you just know that you know that you know.....but you can't explain, because inside of you is a creative mess of possibilities and questions, of hopes and apprehensions, of encouragements and excuses. You don't want to be inside my head at the moment!

Perhaps, just walk some of the journey with me....wherever that may lead.