The Red Thread

written by Chamie

There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible read thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.

Tara Molouf, who we have been staying with in the Seattle-Area, told me of this story, one she heard while she spent three weeks in China photographing her cousin’s adoption of a new baby girl (www.redthreadphoto.com).

I told Tara that I believe our sabbatical has been a story of red threads. We are grateful for amazing connections. I feel that God wanted Tara and I to meet… and up until this time of staying at her home, we had never seen each other face-to-face. Here is the story… I spoke last year at a MOPS gathering at Calvary Community Church in Westlake, CA. I talked with the moms about living in rhythm to the church year. After I spoke, one of the moms came up and said, “I have a cousin in Seattle who is a photographer and makes calendars of the church year. You two sound like you’re trying to live in the same way. You should really meet her.” That little seed opened the door to checking out each other’s websites and then several phone conversations and then Tara talking about their downstairs room that they offer to friends for retreat. All of this a red thread connection, you could say. And what a beautiful connection it has been!

One afternoon on this Seattle-leg of our journey, we went together to meet with the Mustard Seed Associates (www.msainfo.org), a community of Jesus’ followers striving to create the future one mustard seed at a time. We had tea and lemon bars with Mustard Seed leaders Christine Sine and Ricci Kilmer. We talked about family spirituality. At one point in the conversation, Christine said, “Have you heard of the book THE FAMILY CLOISTER?” I started to laugh at the ironic connections, “Why, yes,” I said, “we just had lunch yesterday with the pastor who wrote it!” Another red thread, you could say.

We are so very thankful for these grace-filled, beautiful connections. I feel sad to say goodbye to the Malouf’s this morning as it is time for us to journey to Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. But I leave knowing that our red thread may stretch and tangle, but it will never break.


NOTE – Tara makes the most wonderful church-rhythm calendars I have ever seen. You can check it out at www.storyformed.wordpress.com. These calendars will be given to every family that attends the Family Retreat that Tim and I will be leading at El Camino Pines this November when we talk about “living in rhythm” during the next year.