Home Again

I returned from the ninth Pacific Northwest Quaker Women's Theology Conference this afternoon.  Before I left, I said that I was going to the family reunion of Quaker gatherings.  That is true for me in many ways.  

The women's conference brings together women from all the branches of Friends here in the Pacific Northwest, and the relationships are deep and true.  At the same time, newcomers to the conference are welcomed with joy.  It is a blessed community of women who challenge each other, laugh together, and listen deeply.  The presence of God is palpable.

The theme of this conference was "Inviting, Contemplating, and Enacting Grace."  The past four days were a rich and full time, and the conversations and messages have left me with a lot to ponder.  Right now, I am exhausted, so instead of writing more about it, I am going to post a (short) poem.  

I woke up a couple weeks ago with three lines of a poem in my head.  At the time, I thought that it was the end to a longer poem, and I wondered what the rest of it was.  Now I think I just needed a title and, after the conference, I have one.

Grace-filled

Like Rebekah's laughter,

    Jacob wrestling, and

Abraham saying, "Yes, yes, yes!"


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