Hands

RantWoman’s Google calendar recently reminded her of the birthday of Retired Church Musician Friend. Retired Church Musician Friend earned his nom de blog from his previous profession, including both a Challenging Personality and a life path that had previously crossed that of the RantFamily. Retired Church Musician Friend found Quakers late in life, at somewhere around age 75. He found Quakers in that enthusiasm of I will sign up to do anything whether it is reasonable or not.  Subsequently, Retired Church Musician Friend also earned big points at his memorial for saying Hi faithfully to other younger Friends who arrived at the same time he did.

 

At the time of his signing up, there were only two people on Facilities committee plus him. RantWoman looked at the combination of names on the roster and thought “this could be interesting.” RantWoman had been thinking of offering service on Facilities committee but realized that she had extensive interactions with Retired Church Musician Friend in another part of life and that RantWoman should not overdo…  Without elaborating on adventures and misadventures, RantWoman definitely thinks care of our campus can be a joy for younger hands.

 

RantWoman has a similar twitch about anyone who thinks they are called to clerk THREE committees. Who else might be out there? RantWoman will be glad any time to offer lessons in saying “I am wearing too many hats. Some of my hats need to find new heads.”

 

RantWoman has been thinking about these two concerns alongside the information that Business Meeting last month drew more people than average. Many were in great pain and felt much freer to speak without RantWoman. Okayyy. Others just were unfamiliar with circumstances.

 

The first thing RantWoman wants to say is THANK YOU for showing up! THANK YOU for caring! RantWoman is deeply sorry for everyone’s pain. RantWoman hears lots of repetitive  issues which she is sitting with carefully. RantWoman wants to help make things better and RantWoman is not doing well about secondhand vagueness. While her heart is full and full of attention to the voice of RantWoman (Uggh) RantWoman is not clear even where to start about communication.  

 

RantWoman IS clear about one thread that keeps coming up: “We need time to heal (implying a break from RantWoman)” Look Friends, RantWoman does not get a break from disability. We all need time to learn and grieve, and we need to keep trying together.

 

RantWoman deeply loves this Meeting but RantWoman is no one’s fairy godmother. Meeting has not had any “God has no hands but ours” messages in awhile. RantWoman will try to work on that one, but RantWoman’s hands by themselves are nowhere near enough. Or there is always another call to be the official meeting bogeyman, and to do so with gusto. What reaching can help all around?

 

In Light and Faithfulness

 

RantWoman