Stitched Together

"In the pattern of God's purpose we are stitched together in caring and communion."

Women's Psalms, compiled by Julia Ahlers, Rosemary Broughton, and Carl Hoch

Women have always gathered together --- on the shores of the Ganges and the Euphrates Rivers to wash and do laundry and in the sewing circles of colonial America. We are designed as relational beings. We create strong friendships and communities wherever we are. In every city and small town in this country there are women's groups meeting regularly. Some recently formed and some span fifty years. I am very clear about the fact that women need community. We need to know others care about us and are involved in our lives and we need to care about others and be involved in their lives.

My deep need for community was masked for many years by my sense of independence and competency. Only when I faced difficulties alone and found that I couldn't cope did I realize I could no longer live this life as an independent person. Those who seemed to handle stress better had family, friends, or a community to bolster their efforts.

Now, many years later I can see that much of my adult life has contained this yearning and the search for an extended family or a community. My first experience was in the Rockaway, New York, Jewish summer community where I spent every vacation of my growing up years. We lived on a sand street closed to cars and all the homes were open to all the children. Everyone was family.

My community history winds around through educational groups, a girls high school and college. Then moves to church groups, a Catholic charismatic community that helped me care for my children and myself as the family grew. As my marriage toppled I shifted my allegiance to an Episcopalian charismatic community and they helped me through a difficult pregnancy.

Then there were some self help groups and therapeutic groups who provided community for many years. Next came professional groups as I began to grow my career. Then as spiritual growth became more important for me, spiritual communities took precedence --- a prayer group, a meditation group and the Ministry of Money/Women's Perspective community. Now I am a part of several very small groups of women friends who meditate and share their life's dreams and visions together and a very special book group.

Here are some questions you may use to journal with as you explore your history with communities. What does your history with communities look like?

For Your Group

1. Where are my communities? What brings us together? What holds us together?
2. Do I belong to: a spiritual community? a professional community? a neighborhood community? a special interest community?
3. How does my participation in community sustain me? How do I sustain others in the community? Is there an accountability component in the community?

Rosemary Williams is the Executive Director of the Women's Perspective of the Ministry of Money. She is a financial planner living in Fairfield CT.