still conversing

Conversation 1:

“Are you still doing the ‘2 Conversations’ blog? It’s a great goal.”

Rosie Perera asked this last week. Yes, I replied, I just got out of it. It’s a huge commitment, not just to have two conversations, but to report on them also. Well, here I am, listening to Brooke Fraser, a young lady who is certainly making a difference in the world. For example, her song/video Albertine.

But I digress. Brooke and I have not yet had a conversation—in person or via social media.

Rosie, on the other hand, is someone with whom I have been having interpersonal conversations for more than a decade. I was thinking that this picture from another friend’s Facebook page could be submitted as evidence, but realized that Rosie isn’t tagged. Hmmm. When did she come to Regent? Anyhow, I was there: the blonde in pink sweatshirt sitting directly in the front row.

So last week on Ash Wednesday, Rosie and I had a scheduled phone conversation. She’s doing important spiritual formation work during Lent, using this church year season as a transitional phase, working with a life coach with focus on purposefully living out a sense of vocation, which involves helping others learn to live well with technology. One means is writing, for example.

We talked about reclaiming sleep:

In vain you rise early
       and stay up late,
       toiling for food to eat—
       for he grants sleep to those he loves.

(Psalm 127:2)

We talked about good use of technology and I suggested that perhaps I should cut out non-essential internet use, especially internet game playing. “You won’t miss it,” noted Rosie. She did this one year. “I was free to go back to it after but had no desire anymore: that is so not nurturing of my person.”

Conversation 2:

I’ve been having lots of smaller conversations within a larger conversation about women and creativity leading up to a mini-conference in Calgary this weekend: www.siretona.com/beauty.html.

I had been longing for a gathering like this, but wasn’t sure where to host it. Then last Wednesday I was arranging to do presentations at Chateau Renoir Retirement Residence, and the Activity Director mentioned that they encourage community groups to use their spaces, which include 2 board rooms, a theatre room, and the lobby with grand piano. So, I immediately booked some space for a couple of events this Saturday, did up a poster, webpage and Facebook events and presto! Afternoon mini-conference (Creative Women: Blooming, Birthing & Beauty), dinner for the women, and an evening concert!

Ah, but who would come? I invited more than 300 women from my Facebook friends list. Not all of them live in or near Calgary, but I felt they should know about this.

Tonight Stacy called, excited about this event. After a half hour conversation, she prayed for me and I am now extremely curious to see what God has in store for the day.

Already, there are conversations with people in other locales about doing Creative Women there: Slave Lake, Medicine Hat, Caronport.

Hmmm …