Melissa So Far

I felt the warmth of their hands on my shoulders and arms. Their voices flooded my brain with sweet, loving words entreating God to bring wisdom, healing and restoration. I had been so angry, so hurt, and felt so betrayed. God's peace poured into my wounded places, a healing salve. These women chose to give up their own needs to come to the throne of heaven with mine. Humbling. Prayer is an intimacy that has to be shared in a safe place. Almost every week, once a week, for years now I have been meeting with a group of women to study God's Word, to reflect on how He is working in our lives, to share one another's joys and burdens,  drink a little wine, and to pray. We've been known to call it "wine-soaked prayers." Whatever you call it, it's a sacred space. (For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20) I shared a little bit about them already. Like the area we live, we are an ever changing group. The people I meet with ...

This is a picture of the Chair of Wondrous Knowledge. It's heavy. It's got these arm rests at just the perfect height for your shoulders to rest. It has a place for your bum to slide into and a rest at the bottom for your feet. It's a comfortable chair. It's substantial. It's been in my classroom or in the community of learners I teach for quite a while now. Children who are the person of the week get to sit in it and share about themselves. Adults too. People feel special in it. You have to be invited to sit in it. It's part of the boundaries I've placed on the chair. It has become synonymous with me, for some reason. Recently there have been a lot of changes in my work life. Most are unwelcomed. I went away to a really great conference for four days and upon my return I received many bits of information, one being that the "chair" was no longer in my room. My room didn't fit the activities that required the chair. Persons of the week woul...