Saturday confession time. I’m a Five Minute Friday backslider, falling out of my Friday writing routine and into a Saturday session. But, through the grace of God and the indulgence of my fellow Five Minute Friday contributors, I know I’m forgiven! {Advisory: I’ll probably be back next Saturday as well since I’ll be on the road Friday.}

Under Kate Motaung’s direction, hundreds of bloggers rally around a themed word and, well, write for five minutes. No rules. No backtracks. Nothing profound. Not perfect. Just five minutes of writing, letting the Spirit move you … on Friday … Saturday … or sometimes beyond.

I’ve been using testimonials about the group and the exercise from other members as collected in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Flat. This week’s it’s by Jen. I hope she inspires you to give this writing activity a shot. I hope at least her words inspire you to at least give this writing workout a look.

“FMF gave me a voice when I had none. In the midst of a messy divorce and really sad time it brought me community. I had an outlet for my words, thoughts and feelings that was safe and welcoming and where my sharing, honesty and being real was encouraged. Rather that hiding from what felt like the worst failure of my life (which is what I wanted to do for years) FMF helped me find myself again,, little by little, one week at a time.”

Our word this week is INVITE. Let’s start the timer and GO…

It’s been a busy few weeks in mid-Maine. My calendar has been chock full of activities … social, community, fraternal. In fact, I had something to do every day this week — community dinner, Kiwanis, Aging in Place and other civic meetings, lunch with other widows and widowers, a chicken dinner  and then some.

The common theme was an invitation. In each case, someone invited me to attend and I accepted. Through my life, I, too, have extended invitations others have accepted. I do that each time I post. I invite readers and visitors into my world. I share. I commune. I learn.

And we need that. We are social beings, not meant to be locked alone in a room but sharing our life and experiences. It’s always amazing how similar we are despite our age, socio-economic, geographic differences. We all have a history, a present and future goals that need to be shared.

Ultimately, of course, there is another invitation out there. Our Lord extends His hand in friendship, inviting you into fellowship with Him and the living and past saints. Some of us accept the invitation, others balk for whatever reason. Regardless, it’s always there. The invitation has an RSVP, but it is open ended. You’re welcome any time.

The invitation is out there. The question is not whether or not you accept it, but what you are going to do with it. Are you going to expand your sphere of influence? Or are you going to retreat into self? Are you going to share your experiences? Or hoard those precious memories?

I invite you to share … your life, your experiences … STOP

… your faith.

Feel free to contribute your own take on the prompt word INVITE. And don’t forget to check out Kate’s spot on Facebook at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and read the remarkable takes on the word from other writers in the group.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. — Abraham Lincoln