I listened to the banter of old friends catching up. There was a mix of recent stories, shared memories, and worries about the future. Everything came together in a wonderful give and take. I found myself sitting back and taking it all it. It was wonderful to hear stories that I had long forgotten as well as a few that I had never heard. The worries and uncertainties were universal – it is hard to imagine life without them. In the retelling of recent stories, I could see an emerging trend from the independent story lines.
Each voice was slowly changing the mix of those that gave life its character. I had not noticed the change, in others or in my life before. I could see that even as each continued to talk with the old group, things had changed. How they interacted was different.
I turned to the group and ask a variation on David’s statement; “Do you realize that ‘you don’t socialize with Wicked, or invite Evil over as your houseguest’?” (Psalm 5.4) As the conversation turned on my question, we agreed that none of us had made an intentional decision. Things had changed and we had changed with it. The conversations were still there, but they were different. A shift was underway.
Life turns in a different direction for many reasons. Often, I do not realize or understand why the course change has occurred. The actions of a group brought a reminder that there is an opportunity in your life and mine to reach for more. We can do more than what we have done. We can go father, higher, and longer than we imagine. The window is here. The invitation is wide open. We have the freedom, ability, and potentially the power. Even as I verbalized the words I realized there is a “but”.
But it is hard. But, it is difficult. But, it is tiring. Yes, it is. It is also more than the “buts”. The reminder finds life in our freedom. We control what comes next. We determine our next step.
