Skip to main content

Huddles

Image at Montague County Historical Commission.

A pod of two or three students gather in the slush and snow.
Their breath entwines with cigarette smoke and chilled air and creates a man-made storm cloud. They scowl at the morning cold.

They are waiting, for the friend in soggy sneakers to join them. Then the friend who forgot their gloves, and eventually the friend who always has some extra smokes to share.

One by one, the pod of adolescents grows bigger, smokier, and louder. Laughter bounces off the huddle as they shake head to toe with the punch line of the newest joke.
The group's grumpiness seems to melt away, with the addition of each friend trudging through snow drifts to join the almost mob.

As snowflakes pile up on their eyelashes and scatter on the ground around them, they are content because they are all together in one place. They make a circle, complete now because not even one teen with snow soaked pants is missing.
They are the many, that make themselves one huddle against the cold.
They are one.

T.L. Eastman 09'
Labels:

Comments

Ian Eastman, M.A. said…
This is magnificent.
7:54 PM EST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Selah Season

 Holy Shenanigans Podcast Episode #162 Selah Season Tara continues sane spiritual practices with an opportunity to practice, "Selah". This week's Scripture focus:  Psalm 62. Questions for Discussion: 1. What Spiritual Practices do you enjoy? 2. Are your Spiritual Practices Active or more Contemplative?  3. Do you "Selah", before you Serve? 4. Do you think pause (Selah) should come before Service? Why or why not? 5.  If you could give advice to a friend about the value of pause, what would say? 6. Where can you find a pocket for Selah/pause in your day?
Post a Comment
Read more

St. Brigid Blessings on the Threshold

In preparation for St. Brigid’s day, I consider the blessings that are with us on the threshold.  What are the blessings, neither at the beginning or end, but in the middle.  In transitional spaces that take up most of our days? I think that the threshold can be a space of healing. An opportunity to see things in a new way. A river that takes us to new places of grace. May you feel the presence of love in your thresholds. May it flow from all our beginnings through to each end. May the space of threshold be a balm like lavender, healing our battle wounds. May we find healing in the inbetween. Healing lives on the threshold. #blessings #stbrigid #taralamontart
Post a Comment
Read more

Star Words for 2024

 What is your Star Word for 2024? Episode #161 Holy Shenanigans Podcast Join Rev. Tara Eastman, as she shares the spiritual practice of choosing an annual “Star Word” and gentle options for spiritual renewal with special guest, author: Rev. Katy Stenza.  Katy Stenta is a PCUSA pastor, writer, workshop leader and community builder. She is currently vice moderator for Albany Presbytery, regular contributor to Sermonsuite and leads workshops on writing, particularly prayer and liturgy. Her conversational prayers and psalms are used by people and churches all over the world from  KatyandtheWord.com  and she is all but dissertation for completing her Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing as a public theologian at Mr Roger' alma mater  Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Post a Comment
Read more