Thunderbolts

I'm a fan of Conversion Diary, written by Jennifer Fulwiler. Which is to say, I am a fan of Jennifer Fulwiler, who is even more beautiful in person, if you can believe that. I found her blog a few years ago about the same time I found Ann Voskamp's blog A Holy Experience. And while I love Voskamp's writing now, at the time I was not secure enough to appreciate her beautiful words or photos. They made me see ugly in my own life and home. Conversion Diary's down to earth, self-depricating style was just what I needed.

(By the way, I've grown, and can appreciate Voskamp much better now, thank you.)

So when Fulwiler mentioned she would be speaking at a conference just 20 minutes from my house, at a Catholic women's "Day Away" (offered by Faith & Family Magazine/Online), I had to go. I'd been craving some quality time with other Catholic women. It's Lent, and the schedule for the day featured interesting speakers, small group discussions, confession, adoration, rosary -- even a Mass if you wanted to stay for it. I didn't even know how gorgeous the Church would be. I didn't even know there would be unlimited free chocolate.

At the end of the day, they asked us to come up and share, if we wanted, one or more of three things:

1. A scripture or message that you would take away from the day.
2. A realization that hit you - BAM! - light a thunderbolt between the eyes.
3. If this was your first adoration (it was mine), any revelations you received.

I didn't get up to share, although part of me wanted to. At first I thought I was giving other women time to share, then I told myself that I didn't have my thoughts fully formed.

But now I know the truth.

If I got up there, I might not have stopped talking. And that, my friends, would have been embarrassing.

So, I've decided to do a little series of posts to talk about the take-away messages, thunderbolts and revelations I received one Saturday in Stoneham, surrounded by a bunch of my Catholic sisters.

I can tell you one: Why haven't I been surrounding myself with Catholic women more often? Like weekly? Daily even? Could I box them all up and have them shipped to my house to live in my basement? Just a group of 10 of them?  Please?

You can see why I didn't stand up to share ...