My reasons, seasons, and lifetimes

I read a great poem once that forever holds a special place in my heart. Today, as I chatted with a friend via Facebook, I knew the person on the other side of the chat window was one of my lifetime friends. No matter how much time passes between phone calls, IMs, or actual face-to-face visits, we act as though we saw each other yesterday. I honestly can’t remember the last time I gave him a hug. He lives on the other side of the country, and his visits to the east coast are usually spent with his family. I’m not even sure if he’s ever seen my 4.5 year-old son except through pictures.

But none of that truly matters at the very core of our relationship. Because at the end of the day, I know that when we’re 75 years old, teasing each other at our 55th high school reunion, that our bind will be as strong then as it was when we were 12. And that either one of us get the other to laugh so hard we might pee just by saying “Boarding school?” in just the right tone of voice.

And I can’t forget my dear friend, Virtual Linda. We were college roommates, and if you told me then that we would be the friends we are today, I might have laughed in denial. But the universe has a way of bringing people into my life exactly when I need them. And VirtualLinda has never missed a curtain call. And i am eternally grateful for the role she gets to play in life.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the reason, season, and lifetime souls that cross my path. I may wish a reason would serve for a season. But when I step back and examine the whole picture, I know that we all play the part that’s been designed perfectly for us.