Sunday, December 9, 2007

Home Away From Home

Tasha and I are outdoors so often that I come to regard our many paths as my "home away from home," especially in the warmer weather when I can lug my computer along.

I have another home away from home that is precious to me--to many of us, I would presume to say--and that is my home church. Tasha doesn't venture her with me but my computer often does. Being of a distractable nature, I like to get away from home to work (hence, the computer in the woods routine) and my church provides me that sanctuary. It's a small, old New England church. In good weather, I work in the sanctuary and am blessed by centuries of faith and worship. In this cold weather, I work in the warmest (though not very) spot in the church, which is a downstairs 3rd-grade classroom.

I was writing there yesterday (as in the picture) when I took a break to really take in my surroundings. I was amused and rather humbled to take in the bulletin board behind me. If you look closely, you'll see that I am flanked by drawings of women. The picture below shows what the poster says:

To be surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses was an honor indeed--and I don't mean Dorcas, Tabitha, and Priscilla. To sit in the same seat as our eight-year-olds and to be taught by the work of their hands is a true blessing--and one I would have missed if I had been off on the path with my dog.
NEXT UP: Merry Stahel and her dogs Flint and Echo.

4 comments:

Pam Halter said...

What a totally cool place to write! Dorcas is my favorite New Testament woman and the one I relate the most to.

Kathryn Mackel said...

And why aren't girls named Dorcas these days? She is a wonderful role model.

I forgot to mention...in the picture I'm wearing two pairs of pains and two long-sleeved shirts under that Red Sox sweatshirt. Old, drafty church...and I won't turn on the heat just for me.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a haven, indeed.

I hope you are doing well, Kathy!

May you and yours be blessed abundantly through Christmas,

Merry said...

I am surrounded by little churches in the wildwood. Lots are there for historical purposes only, so no visitors allowed except on special days. There is one just up the road and the minister, who is in his 80s, still does a worship service once a month or so, except in winter.