Holding the Lantern

 I have a fond memory from childhood of holding the lantern for my sister as she took her turn in the outhouse, while my other sister stood shivering beside me in the dark just outside the curtain that was hung as the door. 

We howled like wolves to amuse ourselves and reported, in whispered glee, sightings of ”eyes in the woods.” I assure you that by the time we each “had a turn” and were treading the short path through the snow to the cabin, no one wanted to be last! And no one wanted to be left in the dark! 

We were brave as lions by day but at night in the dark woods of the Canadian wilderness, we ran together, tripping over each other’s boots in the dark, bursting through the cabin’s solid door and slamming it behind us as we giggled at our own nervousness and jumped into our bunks. 

I was blessed with the gift of two sisters and lucky to be in the middle, somehow the least responsible position, (in my case) but also the position of confidence and fierce protectiveness. I was blessed to grow up with them and lucky to still have them in my life. 

Collectively we have endured many hard times, much loss, and some impossible situations. (All will be revealed eventually.) 

Individually we have run up quite the lists as well. 

Sometimes we have asked if we were cursed…but no, we choose to believe we are blessed with the amazing women we grew up beside.

Women to stand beside. 

Women to go to war together. 

Women to cry with - and for!  

And to fall on our knees and pray over. 

Women who aren’t afraid of the dark anymore and will walk into it and call out a challenge.  

Women who laugh a lot! And make each other laugh 

It is a gift
to know that if I am alone in the dark someone is out with lanterns looking for me. 

Over the years we’ve added to our tribe and forged friendships in the fires and floods of life. We have found people in the dark and showed up with encouragement, hope…coffee. 

This is our mission, our calling perhaps: to bring a brave light into the dark and never flinch. 

We hope to find sisters we haven’t met and brothers we haven’t claimed, to share light or to ignite hope… and also to be encouraged by you! 

Whether you have strong siblings to bless you, are an only child, or have a family that is somehow undone right now, we open a place in our circle—a place to share strength, a clan where respecting and admiring one another’s gifts and differences is “a thing.”  

Where there’s safety and a song or a hug waiting. 

Where there’s someone to hold the lantern while you find your way home.