Seriously?!

This past week I became part of a hand selected group of 20 women for a year of "Mentoring Encounters" with my friend Alicia Chole. I was so excited as this is a year of transitioning into a new season of life....the empty nest. What better way to move through this change than reflecting and drawing closer to God to hear His voice and direction!

10 of us met as a group for the first time through a Google circle "Hang Out" time. New technology for me. As I finally got into the video conversation, I smiled in my heart at the incredible, diverse group of women. I thought what I would say to introduce myself as I hoped to make a good impression and connection.

We listened to Alicia share about intentionality in life and I could tell that we were all soaking it in. She smiled and said she was leaving  the last 10 minutes for questions or comments. It seemed that we were all reflecting and maybe trying to figure how to unmute our mic yet give way for someone to speak first. I decided I would write my thoughts by hitting the chat button on the bottom. Then I heard Alicia giggle and say softly, "Oh, that's cute, Roberta." Then she said louder, "How are you doing that?" 

I looked at screen to see what she meant and there I was large screen with reindeer ears and large red nose. I was stunned. I moved my head rapidly from side to side and they followed me. Thoughts flooded my brain..."Who did that? How did someone get into my Google account? Why doesn't it stop? Shall I ignore them and keep typing my question?" But, then I glanced at the other women's faces on the bottom strip and saw a variety of expressions from surprise to concern. So I began in earnest to try and get rid of those ears and nose. But, no shaking them off or moving away. Even when I shifted completely off screen, they slightly trembled and waited gleefully for me to come back.
This all happened in seconds, finally I came back on and shrugged with sad eyes under my reindeer ears and said, "I don't know what to do. I don't know where they came from."

One woman noticed a button on the bottom of the screen that said "Reindeer" so I clicked on it and was saved! By this time, Alicia had been rolling in laughter and even applied her own reindeer ears and nose. I was also laughing so hard, I couldn't get it together. But, tried to compose myself as much as possible and make my comments audibly now trying to salvage some vestige of spiritual insight and wise thought. 

Too late. My real face is now out there for my mentoring friends to forever see and know.
But, wait, isn't that what this group is really about.