WELCOMING at “WOW”

(“Wellness on Wednesdays”  -- an Older Adult Ministry)

Marie Sandman, a frequent participant in WOW writes, “This is a group of seniors from many different backgrounds.  We enjoy the fellowship with everyone.  I look forward to going to WOW every week and making some wonderful friends.”

People who comment about WOW tend to identify the importance of feeling welcomed.  In response to a question I had for Marguerite (the overall coordinator of WOW) asking how people express a “welcoming” to each other, she said:  “It is clear that people miss each other when they are gone and say so when they see each other.  Smiles of greeting are everywhere when people arrive and the typical, “Hello ___, how are you” is heard throughout the room.” 

Marguerite said that a reply to the question, “How are you?” of, “Fine now that I am here.” is not uncommon and represents the level of comfort and well-being that people often feel when they arrive at WOW.  Life can be hard for any number of reasons, but the three hours at WOW can be a lifeboat of positive feelings.  Marguerite said, “Life’s difficulties can be left outside those doors”.  Barb Shortz agrees.  She said, “Mainly people come for the fellowship and the sharing.”

I asked Marguerite if she has a sense that this time spent together on Wednesdays affects people in a good way the rest of the week.  She said “Yes, indeed.”    She has heard many people say during the week that they are looking forward to Wednesday.   Perhaps the most telling, comment, however, came as I asked Marguerite herself what her thoughts were about WOW.  She said, “I find myself on Tuesdays thinking, ‘Oh good, tomorrow is Wednesday and time for WOW.” She went on to say, “What I really like is to see so many smiles on the faces of all those who come to WOW.  The hugs are genuine and the conversations among friends (no matter old friends or brand new friends) are an authentic pleasure for me.  I really enjoy it all.”  

After Marguerite said this I thought to myself, what an important reminder her comments are of the many ways that we can find “happiness”.  I wonder how often those who are leaders and those who are “serving others” in some capacity understand how important it is to their own well-being that those they are “serving” find that experience to be meaningful, and those “served” show it in their behaviors, and/or say it with their thanks.