Our lives are God's tapestries
by Eva Morton
Our lives are God's tapestries … our experiences and beliefs, insights and ideas are among the many strands that God weaves together to make us who we are. Margaret Harding, wife of the Ven. Lyman Harding (retired) of St. Stephen, shared the stories and colours of her tapestry with her fellow clergy spouses at our annual retreat at Villa Madonna March 15-17.
Her presentation to us will add even more colour and more texture to her own tapestry, not just for its insight and humour, but also for its unorthodox presentation. The day before our conference began, Margaret woke up with laryngitis. She could barely whisper. She knew she couldn’t cancel because we would never be able to replace her on such short notice, so she came to the conference and found her “voice” in Ellie Matheson from St. Andrews.
The tag-team presentation was unusual to say the least as well as very entertaining. Margaret’s notes were clear and extensive so Ellie had little trouble delivering the prepared text. Like any good speaker, however, Margaret was inspired by the comments we offered during an interactive kind of presentation and thought of things to add to the text, which she communicated to Ellie and the rest of us in a combination of hoarse sounds and sign language.
The generous opportunities for us to share our own experiences and insights took the presentation out of the realm of enlightening and raised it to inspirational.
Margaret was not the only conference presenter. Natalie Noseworthy, widow of the Very Rev. Donald Noseworthy also inspired us with her experiences from the past and promises for the future.
Lots of time for singing, reflection and fellowship ensured the three-day annual event was a valuable time of encouragement, refreshment and renewal.
We are most grateful to our Bishop Claude Miller for his generous support of this wonderful annual event.
Mrs. Harding, with a tapestry-covered box in which conference participants were encouraged to deposit questions and reflections, is front and centre of the photograph above. She is surrounded by, clockwise from the left, Ellie Matheson, Carol Anningson, Sharon Miller and Eva Morton.
Diocesan Communications
29 April 2008
