allume

real light living

Allume: It’s where My People are

By

Home is where my people are, there is no doubt about it.

We’ve journeyed through the pages of Sophie Hudson’s engaging new memoir, Home is Where My People Are, and met her people there.  In so doing, I’ve been inspired to truly grab hold of my own – both those who live in memories, down streets I don’t live on anymore, and those held within the confines of our literal home today.

And yet, here in the final pages of the book, I am reminded that I can be in the midst of all my people and still grow a little lonely. Not all of me, lonely, just a part of me, but a central part.  That place inside a creative woman of faith who thinks deeply and attempts to write it down, that’s the place inside that longs sometimes for fellowship.  Like a sensitive artist sitting on her stool in the core chamber of her own heart – she needs people too.

 

tribequote

I went to Allume last fall knowing one woman. I guess you could say that instead of having “people” I just had a person.  Kelli was my person. Instead of a tribe, I had a kemosabe. However, something noteworthy about the Lone Ranger is that he really wasn’t so all alone with Tonto by his side.

Seated around the bonfire we call Allume I began to meet new people, women who shared my vision, who carried a similar fire in their bones and a passion to communicate those flaming tongues to others.  From all around North America they came, one by one, carrying stools of their own to sit upon, as we gathered together, drawing close in community.

At the end of the conference we picked them up again, each woman going her own way.  I left the hotel knowing that I now had people, not just a person, that I knew I’d see again online.  But a part of me was sore at the thought of not fellowshipping together with flesh on.  Do you know what I’m talking about?  Face to face and up close.

As providence had planned, I found myself seated on the plane next to an Allume attendee I hadn’t met in the previous days.  Discovering that we lived an hour and a half apart, we exchanged social media handles and purposed to keep in touch.  Jaimie also shared with me a list of other ladies who live in Southern California, not far from us. I scribbled down their names too.

Six months later I did something daring – I reached out to 8 relatively local bloggers (all allume alums) and suggested we gather together to encourage one another.

Encourage. Even now as I type the word I see its root – Courage.  It takes courage to invite new people into our lives.  What if they say no?  What if they realize how small my platform is?  What if they affirm my inner dialogue that I don’t quite belong here?

Oh, but I didn’t give in to the lies. No, instead, I befriended them all on facebook and sent a group message saying, basically, “Let’s get together.”  Wouldn’t you know it, they responded with a resounding, “Yes, let’s!”

And now, after one amazing afternoon walking through gardens, sitting in the shade of a weeping willow, and enjoying afternoon tea together (until the maitre’d firmly told us, one last time, that the place was closed) they are something quite special to me.  They are My People.

 

mypeoplepic

Becky Keife, Laurir Wallin, Caryn Christensen, Jacque Watkins, Denise Hughes and, not quite so all-alone, me.

If you have been on the fence about joining us at Allume this fall, let this testimony call you warmly in.  You are welcome here. There is room for you amongst these people.  There is room for your voice online.  There is room for your stool at the fire this coming October.

Join us!

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Home is Where My People Are

 

Comments

  1. What a beautiful tribe!! I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Becky or Laurie, but those other beauties hold special places in my heart. I wouldn’t know any of them if it weren’t for the blogging world or met them if it hadn’t been for Allume. So glad you were able to find your people in this amazing community, Wendy.

      • Wendy, I so look forward to time spent with the beautiful hearts at Allume. This is when I forget about all the work that has to be done and just want the time to fly – then I remember all the work that has to get done first. 🙂

    • Oh, Amy, you are one of my all-time favorite “friends from Allume” ever! When we met “two Allumes ago,” you brought a smile to my face and my heart as we talked about football. #GirlsLoveFootballToo 🙂

      Speaking of which, next season’s schedule was released yesterday, and did you see the season opener? September 13th at 10 am EST. Packers AT Bears. Oh yeah! I can’t wait. 🙂

  2. Wendy, what a beautiful description of the place in our hearts as writers, speakers, storytellers that can still long for community, encouragement, known-nesss even when we have many non-writing friends. I’m so grateful for your courage, grateful to be your people. xoxo

    • You will find a home and a people at Allume, Susan. A couple of ladies come quickly to mind, as a matter of fact. Start by looking up Diane Bailey. She has a similar heart for communicating the reality of God’s Word in our everyday lives… and she’s also a Grandma, with a natural ability to encourage younger women. So much like you.

  4. Awesome that you were able to get together after Allume!! Not sure about making it to Allume this year, but I’ll keep it in mind…I am really a SHY person and not sure how I’d react amongst “strangers”; but, really, NOT strangers because we have connected on Facebook and through our blogs…glad you had these opportunities – OFF line!! – to get together with other – your people!

  5. Wait…so, I’m Tonto? Did you just call me a horse?! 😉

    I’m glad I get to be your person among people. God knew I’d need a special heart sister. Thankful for fourteen years of friendship, which all started with a cup of tea. I do love you, my dear friend.

  6. you are so blessed… I have met so many wonderful women online, but for years now I have been lacking that “in the flesh” fellowship experience with other women who are creative, faith-filled, and more or less “get” me 🙂 I keep praying to find them here in the chilly northeast! 🙂 I would so LOVE to go to Allume this year…working on and praying for the finances to fall into place!!

  7. Ah, I would love to go…one of these days, maybe! There really needs to be a west coast version ;).

    • You are preaching to the West Coast coir, Sister. But until they add a date and location here… I’m going there. I do look forward to meeting you (somewhere) one day.

  8. What a special gift to have spent the day together. Thank you for being brave and reaching out and for how you care. There’s nothing like face to face connection, and what beautiful connections I’ve been blessed with through Allume. So very thankful! xo

  9. You have no idea how hard it was for me to read this post! I sit here going “God, I want this so bad!” Yet I know its so not even close to being there right now. I wish there was a way to get the inspiration and word out face-to-face through seminars in our areas…for those of us dreamers who can’t be there. Maybe one day!

    • Taking a moment to pray for you right now, Bethany, that God would bring you people to meet you right where you are at (literally and figuratively). You have such a lovely heart and way of communicating. May God surround you with a flesh and blood community to cheer you on and keep your hands lifted high when they threaten to fall. All this and so much more, right where you live! Amen? Amen!

  10. Wendy I am inspired by your courage! I would love to have that sisterhood in my city as well. Also, what a great endorsement for Allume. I’m going to look into it. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Hi. Wish I could have been there:) I live in SC though. I love that you made last in friends.

  14. I loved Allume and met so many wonderful women last year! I’m looking forward to going again this year too!

  15. Lovely words describing a beautiful community of online friends who meet in real life. I was at Allume and was blessed by the real bumping into the online and new friendships being formed. The beauty of this is that you crave for all of your online friends to become real-life friends. I have been nudged to make these real life meet ups happen more often. This summer I hope to meet some online friends by driving to them. There also is a FMF Retreat in the works and this will bring members of another fun online community together in real life. Thank you for these words. I am praying and hoping that I will be at Allume again this year.

Categories

Archives

Google+