Becoming Me Without You
by Rachael Crabb and Friends
We’ve been on a thinking and writing hiatus for several months, and we are working on producing a blog at least six times a year. The article for today, How A Zoom Breakout Group became a Lifeline of Friendship, isn’t about grief, but it is about community. I find it relevant to a community that helped me in the grief process of Larry’s Home going and is still a big part of my life.
A note of thanks to the 3rd Saturday Zoom group and their stenographer, Nancy Little, for honoring my request to write and share about community life via Zoom after 3 years and counting. As always, thank you for joining me on this journey of becoming me without Larry.
-Rachael
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How a Zoom Breakout Group Became a Lifeline of Friendship
In February 2022, we joined The Larger Story Summit (a gathering to commemorate the ministry of Larry Crabb at the first anniversary of his HOME going). This summit was held at the Cove in Asheville, NC, and was originally planned to be an in-person-only event. Thankfully, the conveners opened a virtual option, including breakout sessions with discussion groups. This made it possible for those of us who couldn’t make the trip due to COVID regulations, various health concerns, and distance. Little did we know that small decision would lead to something deeply meaningful. Our breakout group was about a dozen people, strangers at first, but over the weekend, something started to click. The discussions were rich and honest; it felt like more than just another Zoom call, it was a community. One member asked if we could keep meeting, another had a Zoom account and offered to be the host. Soon, nine of us were meeting on the third Saturday of every month. Norman Backhouse, from Canada, stepped up to lead, drawing on his training in Spiritual Direction with Larry Crabb.
Life Happened and We Walked Through It Together
Over the past three years, our group has shared some of life’s most tender and powerful moments: major life changes, moves, retirement, aging struggles, cancer diagnosis, and we even said goodbye to one of our dear friends as he passed into eternity. Despite being in different time zones, spanning 16 hours, our little online circle has stayed strong. We’ve prayed, laughed, cried, and held space for one another in ways that only true community can offer.
Our Studies – and What Really Mattered
At first, our conversations centered around books by Larry Crabb, The Pressure’s Off, and The
Papa Prayer. These studies, so graciously led by Norm, gave us structure, wisdom, and spiritual
insight, a foundation on which to continue forming more like Christ. Our monthly calls became more than a meeting; they became a refuge.
More Than a Zoom Group
Rachael asked us to write about our group, and as we looked back, none of us could have predicted how a Zoom breakout session would turn into such a lifeline. What started as a workaround for a missed in-person event has become a source of deep connection and Spiritual growth. In a world that often feels so disconnected, we found something rare: friendship rooted in our relationship with the Trinity and each other: faith, hope, love, honesty, caring, and companionship. If you ask, “Have you met in person?” the answer is NO! But we have HOPE that one day we will be rejoicing around the throne together. And that’s something we’ll never take for granted.
Norman and Vaila Backhouse
Peter Fenwick
Delphine McCoy
Lylia Aana
Bob (in Glory) and Nancy Little
Syd McCrorey
Sachiko Nagao