A few weeks ago, our presbytery had a luncheon to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women. It was one of my “take M to work” days, so I schlepped her and all of her stuff to the church where it was held—one of the closest ones to Suburban Pres. Still, I arrived way late. I left late to begin with after rushing around to feed M and change a inconveniently-timed poopy diaper, and then I made one little decision regarding route that ended up costing me an additional 25 minutes or so. The traffic was so awful I thought about turning back several times. I finally arrived in the middle of lunch, disheveled and frustrated with my sport-utility stroller in tow. “Oh yeah, we’ve come a long way, baby!”

During introductions, a clergywoman I hadn’t met shared her name and church and then said, “And by way of networking—I am looking for other people who write who might want to start a writer’s group.” Sassy Pastor, who reads this blog sometimes, elbowed me in the ribs, and I thought, So that’s why I didn’t turn the car around. After the luncheon was over I chatted with the woman, whom I’ll call Clergy Novelist. A few others did the same, including Now-Famous Blogger, and presto, we are a writers’ group.

We had our second gathering today at Modern Mystic’s office downtown, a lovely sacred space. We’re all working on different things, with different aspirations, carving out our writing time in different ways. Let’s be honest—I don’t have time to be in this group. Yet I can’t imagine not doing it. I think it will become a spiritual discipline. And what a fun, eclectic group. We are all brilliant and destined for greatness, of course!