“Have you been to our lounge before?”
“Yes, thank you.”
I took the elevator to the upper floor. On my first and only visit, it was crowded. Most importantly, I knew there would be food for a belated lunch. The doors opened to silence. It was empty except for a few staff walking without words or sounds. I took a seat wondering. To my left, there were only empty tables. To my right, there was an arch of seats that went right to the edge of my vision’s horizon. I was alone. There were places for food without anything hot or cold. I sat motionless, wondering, if only to myself if I had chosen correctly.
Life has far more choices than one believes in the moment. I often catch myself thinking it is either the left or the right. The memory of a friend’s voice reminds me that two options are never a choice, they are a dilemma. Consequently, with only two, I go looking for the third. The quest always leads me to more with clarity close behind. Choice is grounded in awareness and understanding. If there is a limited supply of either, Life reminds me to go looking for more.
Life lived fully is intentional. Life has a habit of replaying old words of advice when the world is flowing fast. Remember Bill, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12.2)
One is never alone, even when one is lonely. As I reflected, the empty seats began to fill in my mind. Memories, voices of those I recognise as the individuals I am still getting to know. In listening, being present, I found myself filled with hope in the quietness.
My seat was perfect.
