Breathing Life

What breathes life into you?

What offers an exhale of refreshing?

Who do you breathe easier around?

Here’s one of mine:

Spring of 2022 brought the formation of a Book Club Society into my life. It’s been one of my very favorite parts of this year.

Life-giving + breathing joy in + delight = a very brief summation.

We began by reading The Fellowship of the Ring.

We entered a world of hobbit holes and opened a round green door. Of Gandalf and Galadriel. Of Gollum and greed. A ring, “my precious,” a compelling pull with the certainty of corruption. Movers of deeds and doers of deeds. Friendship and a company united by the truth of their quest.

A launching pad for endless discussions and revelations. We then added a creative wing to our Society. Inspiration from Tolkien’s tales showed up in pie and bracelets, oil paints, black and white pencil drawings, written words, graphic artwork, knitted socks and Christmas ornaments, works of our hands.

We met this month for coffee + Christmas + a cookie exchange and, of course, excellent conversation ranging from the last five chapters of The Two Towers to anxiety to spiritual direction to Judas.

  One of our comrades gifted us each a bracelet and bestowed titles on us with beauty and grace like Narnian Queens ~

Abigail, The Smart + The Scribe

Amy,  The Wise

Gracie,  The Curious + Kind

Deborah, Whose Eyes See Beauty in all Things

Renae,  The Lily On The Water
{Not only are lilies beautiful but they protect animals underwater from predators above}

Martha, The Watchful+ Witty

And they were perfectly fitting, bracelets and titles, both.

And then my dearie girl, gave us a descriptive byline for our Society ~

Comfort * Companionship * Creativity

And it utterly encapsulated all that it is, that we are.

We find life and breath and essence and energy in the comfort of companionship, the cheer of mindful creativity, the crafting of careful composition, considerations and contemplation, and circumspect conversation.

“Far above the Ephel Dúath in the West the night sky was still dim and pale. There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a bright star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach. His song in the Tower had been defiance rather than hope; for then he was thinking of himself. Now, for a moment, his own fate, and even his master’s, ceased to trouble him. He crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo’s side, and putting away all fear he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

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