As I described Daily Whispers to a friend, I found myself travelling across time, picking up memories here and there. Life has used so many faces to teach me the lessons I needed. In good times as well as those darker, She continues to teach.
In the reflection, I see several who are beyond reach of a call. I wish I was at peace with their departure. For different reasons, I find myself in a dark space when I reflect on their absence. As selfish as I know it is, the emotional void within me is tangibly real.
There are universal themes in how each touched my heart and mind.
Each brought a unique smile with them. From two of us eating a sushi-filled wooden boat normally for a family of four to five, to being chased around a pool, or reflecting in the shade as we savored hand-made ice cream, we shared life, living, and smiles. We knew it was special at the time and distance did nothing to diminish the intensity of what we had then.
Each taught me in unique ways. Lessons in being open to life, observing, and expressing it through art was just the beginning. Relationship, purpose, and trust being at the heart of what it means to live, really live, became recurring themes I always found energizing and inspiring.
We walked through good times and difficult ones, trusting the other and being able to lean on each other when everything seemed lost. To me, it seems as though there is unfinished business with each. Knowing they are beyond my reach increases the size of the barriers in my mind. I want to scream “why”, even as I know the answer will not change anything. I want smooth sailing and a lifetime together. Instead, life stings. It is as if some pronounced that “pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward.” (Psalm 120.4)
In the silence, I hear them. Live with a unique smile. Learn and share always. Trust and lean into relationships. I love the sounds of their voice.
