Imagine if you will,

souls that are inescapably connected even though their lives do not parallel.

And the wonder of how people pass in and out of your life.

Seasons and times for people and places.

I have a friend that is just returning in a month from Chile. She is sad to leave as she says that it will be weird not having the people in her “normal day” absent, but she is happy because people who used to be in her “normal day” will be again, present.

I have two very good friends that I’ve had since childhood. A friend, Karina, who I’ve been friends with since I was 9. She is conservative, she is unlike me. In fact, perhaps, opposite. But she and I have strong strands of friendships, thick cords. I wonder if it’s because we both value loyalty. For a while, she lived down the road from me. I saw her as often as possible. We had all the same interests. We did everything together. And then our lives took different turns. I still value this friendship as one most dear to my heart.

My other friend, Holly, is also unlike me. We became close at the critical age of 14. We were not adults, we wanted to be, we did not understand what it was to be. We watched each other come out of our cocoons and unfold our wings into adulthood. Because of this tumultuous time, we have watched each other make more mistakes, say more hurtful things, take wrong turns, stumble, fumble and we are still friends. Better friends because of the rough terrain. I cherish this.

This weekend, I had a friend come visit who I have never met. A stranger? No. It is probably the strangest friendship I have, and I have some weird ones. We have been electronic penpals. Word-conversers. We have written to each other fairly consistently for more than 10 yrs. We have lived lives unparallel to each other, yet we have shared spiritual journeys, heartbreaks, learning, growing, cracking through faults, and exploring where life throws us. This is Ivan.

The funniest thing about meeting Ivan, and Ivan meeting me, was that there were no surprises. How do you do that? Through words, how do you paint a picture of yourself for someone to see you as you are, not just a projection? Not who you think you are, but who you truly are? I do not know. But it was accomplished.

Most of you who read this, that I know about as the internet lends itself to anonymity, I know personally, I value in my life. But I can honestly say that I do not have two friendships that are the same. I am grateful. Please know, friend, that I am enormously grateful for what you have contributed to my life. I have been shaped, kneaded, stretched by each of you.

Thank you.