When my mother
approached me about attending a Faith@Work womens retreat with her, I agreed
to go. The programs title, Daughters of Eve, grabbed my attention.
In my prior semester at school I had taken a class entitled "The Bible
As Literature" and felt that I knew all there was to know about Genesis
and the story of Eve.
The retreat started with some "getting to know you" mixers and I tried my hardest to remember everyone's name. The larger group split into small family groups. Our leaders guided us with questions and examples from their own lives. Our small groups were left to guide themselves. Each group seemed to bond very quickly. By the end of the first evening I felt very much at ease. I knew this was not a chance event.
Growing up in Michigan, I spent the majority of my Sundays at Grace Episcopal Church in our hometown. Grace served as a very warm and loving second family and I felt very secure within its close-knit community. When I was 12 I left my regular Sunday school class in order to join the group which was to be confirmed the following month. I made this choice in somewhat of a daze, but with the full support and encouragement of my family. When confirmation day arrived, as I walked into the church I received compliments, as well as smiles and looks of anticipation from fellow church members. My family and friends visiting from around the slate were so excited for my big day which made me nervous.
My feet carried me to the steps in front of the altar. I was kneeling in front of the bishop who was anointing me with oil. I didn't feel ready, but before I knew it, there I was ... confirmed. As my family and friends congratulated me, I realized that the chaotic month of preparation had now come to a halt with my great Rite of Passage. The only problem was that I felt at a loss as to exactly what that Rite of Passage was!
Loss and Looking
Time passed. My family moved to a different state and I not only fell the great loss of childhood friends, but also the loss of my second at Grace church. We spent many Sundays "sampling" churches in our new town and eventually found an incredible church which was able to fill the empty space which leaving Grace had created. The experience of loss and finding another church home made me realize what a strong need I had for this type of community in my life. There I tasted the power of retreat with an event called "Happening." Thirty teenagers were transformed by the power of unconditional love. For me, it was the next significant step in my journey to Self.
After that, I tried to keep the spirit which I felt at "Happening" alive within me, but this was not always so easy. The Faith@Work retreat gave me the boost that my spirit needed. Now the opportunity to be part of a group of exceptional women and learn our story through Eve gave me a better understanding of how the spirit works and to be happy for the times that I come in contact with it on an intense level. I know that my task is now to concentrate on how exactly to keep this spirit alive within me on a daily basis. The gift that I received from the Daughters of Eve retreat was being able to share my spirit with those around me, and gain from the spirit they had to share.
Annamarie Dietz writes from Richmond VA.