Friends: How many of us have them? –  Whodini (the rap group, not to be confused with Houdini, the magician.)

For years, I’ve been tinkering with the idea of starting a book club/social club, so that I could gather a group of women together so we could pray, encourage each other, talk through our issues, and laugh together over a couple of pitchers of the beverage of our choosing.

In my head, I have organized the gathering, sent out invites, and even come up with a menu.  I even came up with a name, an homage to social group my grandmother belonged to.  I’ve even tossed the idea around on my only social media platform.  A great group of women responded.  And still I’ve done nothing to move this idea out of my head and into reality.

I desperately need to feel a sense of community.  I feel like an outsider, everywhere I go.  At work, for the first time, i’m Being encouraged to work in a team.  I have benefitted greatly from the contributions of my co-workers, but still, I’d  prefer to sit at my desk with my headphones on and work by myself.

At church, I’m a misfit. I find myself fighting to not rock the boat too much. (Not rocking the boat is not an option for me.) I try hard to keep my mouth shut, and some days are more successful than others.

I do not want to downplay the role of my friends in my life.  I have dear people who pray with and for me, who support me when I can barely stand on my own. I have family that are literally my first loves.  I love them more than words can express.

The more I think about it, this little idea of mine is probably just an excuse for me to be in the room with all of them at the same time, doing what we always do together.  Eat, drink, and be merry.  That is biblical after all.

Mama Radford