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Mid-Winter is a time of hibernation and reflection for many, and for us older folks outings can be a real hazard. It makes one feel grateful for friends that will take us to shop for food or will pick up a small item or two for you, as they dash home before the snow becomes deeper. Besides time spent catching-up on social media with those near and far, I felt that this year would be a time of learning for me and I enrolled in a Theology course, done all online, but with a group chat feature for those who may want the “feel” of classroom experience.

Besides gaining new information and broadening my outlook on the subject matter, I discovered something new about teaching methods in general. As a young girl, school was basically information that you memorized and would become useful ay some point down the road. In this class, they seem to be more interested in how and what I see or feel or my impressions at a deeper level of the material presented. Wow! This is a surprise!

What I thought, how I felt and the perceptions I had were always kept tucked away inside. I may have shared them with a friend from time to time but, they were rarely asked for…let alone of interest to anyone but me. Right now, I’m becoming more open with my impression of the subject matter but, not really open about much else. I rarely use the group chat except when the Teacher asks for a response from the class. I don’t join in to the “threads” on the message boards because, frankly, I’m not sure what to say.

Someone once told me, “You talk too much,” and I’m not sure I’ve ever recovered from that. I’ve discovered that what I think or feel is truly of little value to anyone but me, and God. I talk to Him a lot. The tech age has caused most folks to resort to emails and text messages; sort of impersonal. If someone does want to talk, the inflection of the human voice in integral to fully getting the message. Furthermore, many folks don’t bother to respond to an email that may contain general information and perhaps, an invitation to have dialogue.

I went for a ride on my scooter today and what a difference in communication opportunities I had with strangers. So many spoke to me, both in passing, in the grocery store,and in the dollar store. It was delightful! It made me long for those sunny days when folks would gather at the local ice cream shop. It made me even more grateful for the group of Senior’s who gather regularly to share a meal and stories and just “check-in”, as the facilitator calls it. We need to be prodded at times but one story leads to another.

I’m truly looking forward to Spring, not just for a trek around the neighborhood but also for the start of the second course in the series that I was offered. Things may not be as they once were but, “everything will be made new again.” Perhaps, with Divine Intervention, I’ll blossom into a new creature, one that won’t be afraid to speak, one that won’t be afraid to step out and be who God made me to be, which I’m learning is always “enough.”