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Mana’s Writing Room, my writing room is sacred space.

• A re-purposed bedroom.
• A piece of our home that shapes me more than any other room.
• My belovedness is affirmed there.
• My purpose is re-energized there.
• God’s truth meets me there.
• Ministry springs from there.

I come in the morning hungry, needy, wanting. I leave full, able, giving.

Mana’s Writing Room is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, my writing happens here. But my writing follows my sitting, my staring, my wonderings. My comfy chair facing the triple window precedes my computer chair facing the screen. Just as the natural precedes the supernatural, small moments precede big stories. Remembering precedes ministry. The comfy chair precedes the computer chair.

“Our lives are stories built of small moments.” Roots and Sky, p.18

The other rooms in our home also call – no – clamor for my attention.

• Clean laundry needs to appear from that closet off the back hall (my husband is preparing for a trip).
• Our guest room needs attention before our friends arrive.
• Our dining room needs to transform into a tea room for a grieving friend.
• The kitchen summons me to marinate our favorite recipe for guests.

Each room affirming the opportunity for love. Each a sacred place, a springboard for ministry.

“Something significant happened to our world because Jesus walked here … while God had always met with people in sacred places – like mountaintops or the temple – Jesus cracked open the familiar mold. Since Jesus, every place has the potential to be sacred.” Roots and Sky, p.58

And if these rooms could talk, oh, the stories they would tell.

• We’d rejoice again.
• We’d wipe the tears again.
• We’d pray together again.
• We’d plan and scheme again.

When we gathered in our living room around the husband, his tears flowed freely as he choked out the story of their prodigal son. Gently, we laid our hands on his shoulder and prayed. On another evening at the dining room table, he asked for wisdom as he struggled to launch a new ministry venture. We prayed with him again. Giddy is the best verb to describe the evening when, this time in yet another living room, he shared about the upcoming marriage of their second daughter. We joined him in prayers of rejoicing.

Splendid Friends … as we call ourselves, from 2009

Home – a sacred space. Each of these stories began as three small moments in the life of one of our friends, in one of our homes. Each of these stories has new chapters. Each shared in a home among five couples committed to each other and committed to hospitality.

“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” Luke 8:38 and 39, ESV

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:13, ESV