Reminiscing in the Rain

It is early morning and we  have been sitting under the covered part of the porch talking about the fire and the conversation that we had last night with our marriage life group. A gentle rain is falling and it’s cool and damp.  There are 3 bright yellow finches on the feeder and one red cardinal.  A morning dove is cooing gently and it reminds my wife of sleeping on the screened in “sleeping porch” at her grandparents farm when she was a child.  The finches are chatting with each other.  The light is super soft because of the overcast sky.  The freshly mowed grass is rich deep green.  I am trying to recollet the smell of  smoke from the fire that we made last night. 

 

This life group been meeting every other week since 2018 with the same couples.  We know, celebrate, and appreciate each other.   Almost always we have what feels like important conversations.  We have had hundreds of discussions and can easily talk, share our hearts, and build ideas somewhat un-filtered. 

 

We always do food.  One husband brings grilled sausage most every time.  His wife often bakes something fun and usually healthy, like black bean brownies or delightful gluten free bread.  Sometimes I smoke green chili Gouda cheese on pecan wood.  One adventuresome lady finds great snacks, while she is out and about, and brings those to share.  Wine flows.  Some of us drink ours in Cool-Aid cups, which make for fun toasts!  There is a sense of generosity and abundance around the table.  And nice tasting food sets us up for some good connections. 

 

We start showing up around 7 o’clock and lay out all the snacks, then share, laugh, and reconnect for about an hour.  During that time, the atmosphere is enriched by piano and or guitar, and beautiful soulful voices and it simply feels really good. 

 

Around 8 o’clock, the conversation becomes more focused as my wife and I talk about a marriage topic that we developed together.  We share some of the things that are currently on our hearts and then open it up for a group conversation.  I am consistently impressed and blessed with the quality, thoughtfulness, and intentionality with these dear friends.  My wife and I enjoy communicating our ideas and I sense quiet honor as these couples listen to our hearts.  That feeling of honor is significant to me because it is not common in this world.  

 

Last night we had a nice fire on the patio in the washing machine fire drum with the group.  One of the guys supplied some hand-split seasoned oak.  I lit it with a flame thrower and almost set my shirt on fire when the flames unexpectedly caught a backdraft.  Ole!  

 

We sat around that fine smelling fire until around 10:30 discussing ideas regarding closeness and intimacy in marriage.  We formed and then articulated ideas on how to make improvements in our own marriages.  There was a rich sense of clarity of thought and intention of heart.  

Each face reflected its own kind of beauty in the soft orange glow of the fire light.  Some important and potentially life-changing things were expressed last night. It felt like there is a new potential for upgrades in each of our marriages that was inspired with our ideas and words.  

 

This morning, I am looking out over the fire pit and the wrought iron rocking chairs where we sat last evening.  Goodness, kindness, and generosity are still resonating.  Some of life’s most precious moments have been with these couples around that fire drum.