Posted by Helen on: 02.06.2007 /
On Rachel’s blog entry about her experience at the Women’s Convergence Conference, Jim asked:
This makes me wonder- where do women who don’t identify with gatherings where following Jesus is valued go to find this kind of connection? or do they even need it?
I’d like to generalize this and ask men and women:
Comment by: benjamin ady
1Quick answer: Yes, desparately. Longer answer: Yes, desparately *and* I’m terrified of it, *and* I hate it, at one level. But I’ve learned it’s the only thing that fulfills that need which doesn’t also lead toward death (that is, I haven’t found any other not-leading-toward-death way to fulfill that need so far).
Where to find it, where to find it: the healthy ways: interaction at university, interaction at Monkfish, interaction with Megan, interaction with girl #1 and girl #2, interaction with accountability partner, interaction with FOO (although that’s a bit more complicated), interaction with friend who is an associate pastor, interaction with other friends at my house or theirs, conferences like Revolution Conference and the upcoming (in April) neighborhood missional learning day put on by PRAXIS in Seattle, ITP Father’s night at The EEU at the UW, … (wow, I am completly blown away by the way that list just rattled off the top of my head. I see that I have made enormous progress. Now I feel enormously stoked and grateful. Thankyou for asking!)
Comment by: Eliza
2I haven’t had any experience like the conference Rachel described.
It sounded like some aspects (the camraderie) could be present in any gathering of women friends, though definitely not necessarily in any gathering of women. There are groups where I’ve encountered that; my book club comes the closest, lately. But there are other aspects of Rachel’s experience that must be be unique to a religious women’s conference, & specifically to a Christian women’s conference, & those I’ve never experienced, don’t know what I’m missing or whether I need it.
(The UU church I’ve just joined is having a retreat for 3 days in May, outside the city, at a camp. I’m planning to go, & may experience something new in that group/gathering.)
Comment by: Doreen
3Has anyone tried meetups and if so, how’d that go? (www.meetup.com)
Comment by: benjamin ady
4doreen, thankyou for the meetup info. Fascinating. I shall tuck it away in case of need.
Comment by: Laura M.
5I’ve registered for a lot of groups on meetup.com but haven’t shown up for a single meeting.
Bad me.
I would love to have that kind of comraderie with other people, but I’d prefer a mixed sex group. I’m certain I wouldn’t be comfortable in an ‘all women’ environment.
I’m kinda shy, so I don’t do anything close to that. The closest thing is services at the UU church here in Dallas that I just started attending a few weeks ago. But I barely talk to anyone there.
I do stuff at my kids’ school, but that’s not the same either.
Comment by: Meg
6I’ve just been in Australia for 7 weeks, and we experience magnifique comraderie, not dissimilar to Rachel’s, at the beach, spirituality optional!
The problem is coming back to the cold usa. I adore my husband and little family, but it’s SO cold and lonely and isolated and depressing here.