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Last week I mentioned I was headed to The Lodge at Deer Run for a weekend with the Fusion Women’s Ministry of West Hartselle Baptist. One of my Siesta friends, Dianne Walters, invited me to teach for the retreat and of course, I was absolutely delighted to do it. Occasionally there will be one Siesta at an event, but this time there were two. Hi, Karen! Meeting you made me so happy.
I’ve told y’all many times that there is always something special about each group I have the privilige to serve and this one is no different. Of all the things I loved about the Fusion girls, I think the discussion time at the very end of the sessions was my all time favorite. It was so very obvious these women had a deep love for one another, their church, and felt no condemnation in being honest and open about very complicated issues and emotions they were facing. These girls were profound. (Rhonda, the ‘heart in the bucket’ comment you made will stay with me forever. There were many others that will as well but I’m afraid I risk oversharing if I am too specific with the things that touched me so.) They were hysterical. (From this point forth and forevermore I will refer to a group of wild turkeys as a herd. And the amazing worship team’s rendition of ‘This is the Stuff’ was nothing short of priceless. Especially the car. And the cop. *grin*)
And I can’t get away without praising the accommodations. (IBC girls, this screams Couples Retreat! And yes, I’ll be checking in to that.) Deer Run is located right outside of Franklin, TN and somehow I accidentally ended up downtown. Probably because I was so busy looking at the leaves that were in full glory. Or hoping for a sighting of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Or Toby Mac. I hear he lives there but I’m sure he just forgot to give me his address. Anyway, I immediately called Luke to tell him I must have died on the way because I most certainly was in heaven. There were quaint Main Street shops and adorable cafes. And there was a Pumpkin Festival, for Pete’s Sake! For a Fall Loving girl like me, I could have been laid to rest right there. I didn’t get any pictures because I was driving. My fellow drivers who weren’t as eager for heaven are still thanking me.
Here are a couple of photos I’ve stolen off the Facebooks of my new friends:
The Amazing Dining Table that would not fit in our vehicles. Not that we tried.
The wood-burning fireplace. After sitting on this hearth, Cracker Barrel is dead to me.
The Girls. One of the points of teaching this weekend was my sharing how I had been praying specifically as of late for the Lord to make me sweet. It’s one thing to act nice – I’ve got that one down pat – but to be a woman who is authentically sweet in the core of her being is another altogether. (Does that one get just me or is anyone else resonating with that thought?) I’ve got a way to go but not this group. In the purest way, they are shweeeeet. And adorable. Just look!
Thank you one more time for taking me in as one of your own. And for next year, remember the words of the Holy Spirit….”Two Nighter.” And may I also add, though I do not have a word from the Lord on this, “Invite Lisa.”
And now a question for all of you: Where is your favorite retreat location? I’m always on the lookout for a good place for our church and I’m sure many other girls are as well. You are welcome to leave a link/web address if you’ve written about it on your blog or have the facility’s contact information to share.
p.s. I’m still giving away a Casting Crown’s “Come to the Well” cd on this post. Nothing to do but leave a comment and there are only 10 entries so far. What?? Jump 0ver there and enter! I’m announcing a winner Tuesday.
Hope you had a great weekend, too!
The Voice
By Christine Hoover
Sometimes when I’m sharing one of my many issues with my husband he breaks out his Preacher Voice on me. He will do his best Loving Husband with his masterful listening, nodding and reflecting and then, seemingly out of nowhere, his day job sneaks up on me. He throws out a reference to Scripture or, like a super-spiritual WWF wrestler, does a thinly veiled pastoral counseling move on me.
Ah, the Preacher Voice, you know it too? The deep, soothing, melodic speech that comes from a preacher when he is not in the pulpit, but feels compelled to “be the preacher” or have all the right answers. The prayers and exclamations filled with “Praise Jesus!” and “It’s a God thing” and “hedge of protection.” The accompanying soft pat on the shoulder, head tilt and empathetic nod.
Now before you think I’m anti-preacher or anti-hedge of protection or anything, let me tell you one thing worse than Preacher Voice: the Pastor’s Wife Voice.
My own, to be exact.
Pastor’s Wife Voice is less about the spoken word and head-tilts and more about the demanding voice inside my head. You might be familiar with Pastor’s Wife Voice:
I shouldn’t do that because I’m the pastor’s wife.
I should say that because I’m the pastor’s wife.
I have to do that because I’m the pastor’s wife.
People expect that of me because I’m the pastor’s wife.
I should never let people know that about me because I’m the pastor’s wife.
It seems that the moment my husband stepped behind the pulpit, someone installed a recording in my head that always ends with “because I’m the pastor’s wife.” The Pastor’s Wife Voice replays an endless and impossible standard of a role I must play. Funny, I often attribute that Voice to other people and what they must expect of me. Funny too, the Voice completely lacks any inkling of grace or freedom.
If I let it, Pastor’s Wife Voice makes me into a Stepford Pastor’s Wife, void of any personality or authenticity. It keeps me from connecting with other women on a meaningful level or in mutually edifying relationships. It keeps me caged in and makes me insanely bitter.
Thankfully, there is a third Voice calling my name. It’s just a whisper, really, and I must shove aside the blaring Pastor’s Wife Voice to hear Him, the Holy Spirit. He says things that contradict my Pastor’s Wife Voice, things that free me from perfection or pleasing people. He says things full of grace and truth. He reassures me that I am not playing a role with scripts and blemish-covering makeup, but that I am a woman who has been given an incredible opportunity to bring others to Him so He can quiet the graceless voices playing in their heads too.
I’m listening to one Voice these days, or at least I’m trying to. His is a lot like a non-annoying Preacher Voice, only He really does have all the answers.
Christine lives in Charlottesville, VA with her church-planting pastor husband and their three boys. When not breaking up spontaneous wrestling matches, she enjoys writing. You can catch up with her on her blog for ministry-minded women at Grace Covers Me.
hope y’all are having an excellent week. I’m preparing to head to Thompson Station, TN for a weekend retreat with the women of West Hartselle Baptist. I absolutely can not wait to meet God in the glory of the changing leaves and to hug my Siesta Friend, Dianne Walters! There are a few things I need to purge so here it goes, it no particular order…
1. We have a winner for the first Casting Crowns cd giveaway….
Stephanie at Confessions of a Not So Perfect Pastor’s Wife
Congratulations, Stephanie! Please email your mailing address to lisa AT apreacherwife DOT com so I can have the cd shipped to you.
For those of you who haven’t read Stephanie’s blog, she has a great post right now about raising hands in worship. Y’all check her out!
MW’s don’t forget I’m giving away another copy for those who submit blogs and fall photos to be featured on M2M for November 4th.
2. I’m feeling guilty because I excluded lay people from the Casting Crown cd. So I have another one for CIVILIANS i.e., those who are NOT married to the ministry only. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post . That’s all. And PW’s, I will make your giveaway easier next time. I’m sorry I’m so complicated. You should be Luke.
3. I went to Marshall’s this week because I’ve been on a hunt for some ankle boots with a wedge heel. I told y’all about the pair I found in Florida for $499 that I’ve grieved until now. I say grieved but the more time has passed, the more angry I’ve gotten over them. It is an insult to our intelligence to charge $500 for shoes that most likely cost $15 to manufacture. So imagine my delight when I found some practically just like them for THIRTY-NINE NINETY- NINE. There was also a sign in the store that said, “The poncho sweater is where its at.” Under the sign hung various poncho sweaters. So I bought one and wore it today. I don’t feel any different.
4. Sydney is making great progress with the colonial home. We still do not have a chamber pot. This is a good thing.
5. Something I never told y’all that Sydney and I laughed over for the hundredth time a while ago. When she and I were in Gatlinburg a few weekends ago, we stopped in Bath and Body Works. There was a little girl of about 10 wreaking havoc all over the store while her mother paid her no attention whatsoever. She came and stood by us as Syd was smelling a candle. Syd said, “Mmmmm, this smells like apple!” The little girl, not having any idea I was looking at her said, “That’s because it says apple on the label, you idiot.” I looked down at her, jaw dropped in disbelief with what I know must have been a “No you didn’t just say that” look on my face. She glanced up about that time, realized I heard her and immediately transformed from demon child to Shirley Temple with the hugest, fakest smile you’ve ever seen. And then she promptly ran away to her mother. It was truly a $10,000 video moment. Instead of whipping her behind for calling my daughter an idiot I wanted to hug her for making us laugh harder than we had the entire weekend.
6. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for this week’s Called Out article. For those of you who are submitting your writing, THANK YOU! I love hearing your experiences and perspectives. Also, Rachel has done such a great job working these submissions and getting them edited and posted. You girls are the best.
Hugs all around!
