Every day, posts from (in)courage make their way to my inbox, and every day I read them. For over three years, (in)courage has make their site a virtual beach house, a ‘home for the hearts of women’. We gather in that online space to reflect, share, learn, pray, and encourage one another. Last September, they announced their ‘un’conference called (in)RL {RL = real life}. (in)courage would provide the content via webcasts, and we were to gather in our communities and just be together in real life.
Before I could think about it, I bought a ticket and created a local meet-up immediately.
See, getting together with girlfriends isn’t easy for me. First of all, it seems that whenever a group makes plans, someone has to drop out at the last minute. Something always comes up that gets deemed more important than girlfriend time. And how many times have you dragged yourself out of the house to get together with someone when actually, you really didn’t want to?
Let’s be honest… staying at home in our sweats is easy. Saying ‘I’m fine’ is easy. Letting a friend leave a voicemail is easy.
 |
| goodies loaded in my trunk, on our way to inRL… |
Not risking our hearts for friendships sake is easy. But gathering with women that we’ve never met before, dropping the ‘fine’, really being present with other one another… that’s where the beauty lives. And the funny thing is, I adore hosting. Baking and decorating and remembering little details and greeting at the door and fluttering around… bring it. I love it. But letting my guard down and being real… that’s where the trouble lies.
Thanks to (in)courage (and to the Lord, for putting the prompt on my own heart and Allison‘s, who graciously offered to co-host the gathering at her inlaws beautiful home), nearly 30 women gathered just north of the Twin Cities. We drove from all over the state, wearing jeans and waterproof mascara, just to be together for a few hours. The chocolate was rich, the coffee deep, the conversation sweet.
 |
|
mmm cupcakes… did i tell you, i cut my hair? i did =) and look close – I’m wearing the necklace. |
It was so good that I don’t even have any pictures – we were so busy being together that we even forgot to take a group shot! Gah.
 |
| the only picture i have from the whole day – most of our group as we watch the webcasts |
Mason jars filled with shells and sand and candles were placed around the home, as well as a few lovely products from DaySpring. We prayed and wept as women spoke to us about community, something that we deeply crave and manage to all too easily evade. But on this rainy Saturday, we didn’t shy away. We bravely left our homes and families and drove and found each others hearts in a basement room. 1300 other women did the same thing, in 20 different countries. Impressive, isn’t it?
And I do believe that heaven resounded and satan trembled and our hearts glowed softly as we gathered in real life to praise the One who created us for real life. I believe that in our being in community, in our choosing to hug beyond the screen, in our being brave, we made Him proud.
I can’t wait to do it again.
———-
You are able to purchase the webcasts and study guides and the super cute (in)RL tshirt. Tell me, who will you gather with in real life? Who are your girlfriends?
-anna
{girlwithblog}
*affiliate links used in this post
{girl with blog}
———-
www.twitter.com/anna_r
www.facebook.com/girlwithblog
www.pinterest.com/anna_r
I participated in it too, friday night I watched it at home alone, then Sat I went to a small gathering, it was nice. Then watched it again today in my home alone where I could really focus on the words. My favorite part was friday nights sessions and the session called ‘8 favorite’ blogs. So good to see ‘the ladies whose blogs I read’ in person.
It is SO fun to meet our online friends offline, right?! The 8 favorite posts was really good. So inspiring.
Oh Anna! I’m up way to late because I it’s a gift to start reading the hearts of the women who gathered (in)RL.
“Let’s be honest… staying at home in our sweats is easy. Saying ‘I’m fine’ is easy. Letting a friend leave a voicemail is easy.”
Yes yes yes, so true.
It’s our default sometimes.
But when we shake it off and get brave and connect – oh my – this
“I believe that in our being in community, in our choosing to hug beyond the screen, in our being brave, we made Him proud.”
Yes yes yes – thank you for these words – you’ve got my glasses all misty here on the other side of the screen.
Warmest of wishes
Your sister in Christ
Lisa-Jo
Lisa-Jo! Thank you for stopping by, and for your kind comments here!
YES – that ‘fine’ness is our default, I think, and inRL was so wonderful because it forced our default to take a hike =)
If I wore glasses, they’d have been misty all Saturday long =)
Your meet up was beautiful! I only wish I could have joined you – can’t wait to give you a big hug in October 😀
I. am. so. excited to hug you too!!! Our little babies wil be so big and old by then =)
Anna, visiting for the first time and loving this post. My favorite part? “And I do believe that heaven resounded and satan trembled and our hearts glowed softly as we gathered in real life to praise the One who created us for real life.” this gave me goosebumps because I do believe that too!
My favorite part too! When 2 or 3 or 30+ are gathered Satan is definitely trembling!
Thank you for your kind words, ladies!! It was true – we caused a holy ruckus with our gathering! =)
loved being there with you & those sweet sisters in Christ … beautiful being ministered to, sharing grace and laughs and tears … thanks again to you & Allison for hosting
I am so glad you came, Mela. It’s always a joy to see you, and thought we haven’t gotten to spend much time together, I feel we could drink coffee and talk deep for hours =) Maybe someday we can! =)
Love this!Love a community with friends where it’s okay to be “un-fine” and find grace, healing and encouragement.
I do too!! We all need one.
As I read everyone’s stories all I can think is a sisterhood is starting, maybe already started and just now expanding. I love how many women were uneasy about opening the door and yet stepped through anyway…you are making a difference.
Deborah
I hope you are right – we are desperate for sisterhood!! It’s like a thirsting of the heart.
It was inspiring to see so many women gathered, most of whom had been so nervous to open that front door. God is good =)
I can so identify with your thoughts before the event. I too signed up and agreed to host ….. then thought “what have I done!!!”
I invited lots, not all came, quite a few cancelled at the last moment, but I prayed that God would bring the people who needed to be there.
HE did!
Thanks for sharing your experiences 🙂
AMEN! He did!!
I loved your recap post – so fun to imagine your group gathered across the world from mine, yet both eating cupcakes and worshipping the Lord! I love it!
I enjoyed meeting you, I wish I had gotten a chance to talk to you more. There was so much to digest in those videos. You and Allison did such a wonderful job in welcoming all of us, thank you for that! I look forward to getting to know you more through your blog.
Oh Sara, I wish we could have talked more too! It was such a jammed day, with so many lovelies all in one place. I have the same hope – to get to know you better as well.
I’m so glad you were there =)
It was great to see you on Saturday. You guys threw a great party!
Any excuse to party – sign me up!! =)