Dear Reader:

Yesterday in our Sunday School class, Linda Carson, announced that an epiphany had come to her concerning the search for a new name for our particular class.

Much discussion had preceded the term “touchstone” offered up by a few of its members. After studying the term Linda agreed, wholeheartedly,with this suggestion and researched the term until she had written a wonderful explanation/connection between the term and our Sunday School class.

Immediately, upon first hearing the term, “touchstone,” vague images of gems and pieces of precious jewelry arose in my mind. Ancient civilizations, like Egypt and China, rang a bell but I couldn’t quite pull it all together. So I decided to do some research on the topic.

Like many words….time has evolved and aided into the production of different meanings to this term. Originally a touchstone was a piece of fine-grained dark jasper used for testing alloys of gold by watching the color of the mark that was made from it. Over the years it simply came to mean a “benchmark” or “standard” by which something was judged.

I came across a true story about a monk, who was the only one to survive the Cultural Revolution in China when his monastery was ransacked and all the other monks murdered. Instead of fleeing he remained behind, because in their zeal to find gold and precious stones, the revolutionaries had overlooked the real treasure….the tree of peonies.Here is a short excerpt from the story:

“The monastery suffered terribly during the Cultural Revolution, when gangs of thugs arrived, and stole its religious patrimony, trashed what could not be removed, and then murdered the community of monks who lived there. Except that they missed one, who, extraordinarily, did not run away but instead hid nearby, because he realized that the ignorant revolutionaries had missed the great treasure of the monastery – its tree of peonies.

Such a tree needs looking after, and this he did for years at great personal risk, bringing the oil secretly at night to lubricate its extravagant roots, and ensuring a sufficient supply of water. He never wanted to leave. (Resource- Every Object Has a Story)

He felt that his black button made of “touchstone” had been his good luck charm and it was his destiny to keep the real treasure safe and secure for future generations. 

Today, these Chinese tree peonies, (looking like large shrubs) are still highly prized for the beauty they bestow…During their blooming season these large shrubs can produce as many as 100 exotic-looking blooms.

So to this monk, a “touchstone” was a symbolic good luck charm…a type of  rabbit’s foot of spiritual protection from harm. It was his ‘holding cross.’

Today, according to the Urban Dictionary….touchstone has taken on the following meaning …which is the definition that led Linda to this perfect name for our “all-girl” Sunday School class.

Person of importance. Significant other. Your constant, the person who completes you and makes you whole. A true friend without criticisms and judgments, who loves you unconditionally.

Thank you Linda for this beautiful “mantra” for the crazy gals who comprise our class and show up each Sunday to examine and discover new ideas and paths to help each other along our personal journeys. Each member is a “touchstone” unto herself and others.

“Touchstone”

Touching. Holding. Accepting. Sharing. Supporting. Laughing. Growing. Praying. Laughing. Crying. Joy. Warmth. 

Just a few words to describe a group of women growing their faith so the foundation is like stone, solid and firm. We are studying, discussing, learning from one another, strengthening and expanding our knowledge. 

We are in awe of grace and the sharing of spirituality. We accept ourselves and each other as imperfect beings and discover together God’s wonder. 

We listen, we seek the joy and love of friendship and support. We notice things we may not have before like the whispers of God in the quiet., the uniqueness of nature and each other. We hear, see, and feel the gifts of God’s love. We are thankful for the gift of this class and the sharing of ourselves that occurs each Sunday. 

Thank you Lord, for opening our eyes, ears, and heart each time we meet. Thank you Lord, for the laughter and tears, for the joy and warmth. Please continue to guide us and help us to be open to all you want us to be. Amen.

*Now you see why this class is so special, with people like Linda in it, my friend, one-time (and always) oncology nurse and gifted writer!

So until tomorrow…We understand now, Father, that You are our Touchstone….the One Who loves us unconditionally.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Yesterday might not have been Mollie’s “favorite” day…what with little Lachlan demanding his oral consumption independence…with no help from mom. It was a long day….but goodness he’s so cute…a tiny “touchstone.”