Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. It’s not the kind that comes from books and courses of study. The wisdom called ‘sophia’ in Greek refers to a wisdom gained through life and experience. Foolishness is the opposite and comes not from naivety, but from the unwillingness to learn. The meditations collected in this blog are ponderings about life, faith, relationships and the growing wisdom that comes from introspection and conversation. Sometimes my reflections will seem obvious; some will be filled with frustration; some ooze with hope and joy; some will be those epiphanies we call ‘light bulb moments’ and; hopefully, all will be threaded with thoughts that lead to great discussions.

Think of the giant redwoods in California which can grow to over 300 feet tall. Interestingly enough, they have a shallow root system, which should make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to remain vertical in turbulent weather. The thing is, redwoods stand because they grow long root systems that intertwine with the roots of other redwoods for stability. They literally hold each other up.

And so it is with our spiritual walk. Think about Ecclesiastes 4:12,“By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” We, too, need to hold each other up.

Using the wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the lessons from the giant redwoods, Sophia began as group of women gathered around a table with coffee and some spectacular treats. Each week we found something to spark our discussions. We have cried, yelled, laughed, vented, agreed, disagreed and been stretched beyond our common thoughts and attitudes. Ultimately we have held each other up while growing in faith and compassion for those we encounter as we navigate this thing we call life.

Sophia morphed into study groups that are not just for women. The more diverse the group, the more complex the discussion becomes and the greater the collective ‘sophia’.

Sophia Meditations is an online opportunity to take that walk with others. An almost-weekly post will serve to inspire open conversation. Please enjoy and feel free to offer your comments.