RevGals and GalShip

I began blogging on March 10, 2007.  I wrote 405 posts on that anonymous blog from 2007 until 2011.   The reason I even started blogging was to join RevGals.  Before I began blogging, Mary Beth at Terrapin Station had mentioned me in a blog post and sent me a link. I had seen a couple of blogs before that, but had never considered that a community could be built around people's blogs.  Once MB introduced me to the ring, I got seriously hooked on keeping up with what was going on in my friend's lives - people I had never met but felt like I knew.  I witnessed a horrible murder, a heart-wrenching divorce, incredible joys and exquisite experiences through my new ring of friends.

During that time period, my blog was one of the very few places I could check in with others from the church outside of my own region. I was in a BAD place - geographically and professionally as I went through seminary.  The women of RGBP became my window of sanity and hope for what could be that I dreamed of, as I lived the craziness of what was.

My first in the flesh meet up (besides Mary Beth who I knew in real life) was at the Festival of Homiletics in Nashville, 2007.  It was a like a Spy meet-up - back then most of us were anonymous bloggers, so we each had an alias.  I got to meet Inner Dorothy, St Casserole, 1-4 Grace, Rev Kim, Moose Poop on the Lawn, and Cheesehead.  It was weird and fun and fabulous all at the same time.

By the time the first BE was planned, I was in a really bad place mentally.  I was at the end of seminary with no hope of being ordained in my part of the world.  I almost didn't go - even right up until the morning of the cruise.  I felt like a trespasser and an impostor for even wanting to join in.  That BE gave me hope - gave me a sense of a bigger calling, gave me friends I knew I could confide in and cry
with.  Kate and Kathryn were angels in human skin.  Walking away with hope is an immeasurable gift.  Dancing with Nell and Amy, laughing so hard tears ran down my cheeks, pranks on S-L, chia tattoos, priceless memories.  I won't say it saved my life, but it very well may have saved my calling.

On a later BE, within the first hour, Liz told my whole story back to me.  I had never ever met her before - and I still get goosebumps thinking about what a Holy Moment that was for me.

Now I am lucky enough to have RGBP meet-ups quite often.  There are several of us in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and there are many who come here.  Julie even has stayed with me.  I love my RevGal moments.  Galship is a priority in my life - even with the four busy teens in the house and my two busy jobs.  I don't blog as much as I once did - I don't need it in the same way.  FB meets most of those needs to check in on friends now.  I visit the Tuesday Lectionary Leanings and the Preaching Party just about every week though.  I post the Wednesday Festival the first of each month.  I value the time I put into RGBP and look for more ways to be involved.  I am a proud RevGal.