Saying The Lord's Prayer

At 8:55 this morning, two groups of people gathered at The Greensboro School of Creativity. Unfamiliar with each other, and meeting of separate floors, they had little in common. One was an AA group meeting every workday morning, the other a weekly men’s spirituality group. One gathers to discuss the twelve steps of recovery and the joys and struggles of living without alcohol. The other meets to discuss the joys and struggles of living spiritual lives in a secular world.  At the close of the hour they both said "The Lord’s Prayer" to close their meeting.

I couldn’t help be stop and notice the magic of the moment. Although our hallways look and sound more like a playground than a church, in the midst of all our creativity, ultimately this is a place here to help people become real. Originally envisioned to be a place of safety, the Greensboro School of Creativity hopes to encourage people toward more spiritually and creatively connected lives. To the extent that people find more of themselves in a class, a new relationship with a fellow member, or in one of our discussion groups, the purpose of this place becomes visible.

Later this morning, another group formed, made up of all sorts of people. It was another time of connection as we discussed our lives as creative people. We hushed our frantic lives for an hour, and spoke from our hearts about what life is ultimately about. Although the make-up and content of the meeting was completely different from the other two meetings, the level of authenticity was not, nor was the camaraderie.

Like the others, it was a circle of people BEING beside one another. In my opinion, it was another way of saying the Lord’s Prayer.