front porch living

[click photo for more]

written may 29, 2006
i sit in the airport once again, this time unaware of the people sitting besides me or walking in front of me. sometimes you forget how much a person means to you until you say goodbye. my mind is still at the front of the airport where i just left holly. it was the kind of goodbye where you don't say much for your watery eyes say it all. i let the tears fall unashamed. some people, we don't feel deserving of, and we find ourselves blessed to call them 'friend.' she's one of those. my dad says holly's my 'kindred spirit' so for her, i count my blessings twice.

the history of our friendship is short but deep. though we grew up less than a mile apart, it wasn't until three years ago that college life brought us together. we've walked countless miles, cried precious tears, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and prayed through painful times. i've tried to follow in her footsteps, learning to love the way she loves, but i fall far from her example. she's the kind of person who meets you where you are at with no preconceptions, and loves you as you are. you can't help but be drawn into her presence. when you talk, she listens. when you're not talking, she's still listening. she has this uncanny way of hearing beyond the words you're speaking and breaking into your heart. at first, many people do not understand why they feel such a peace when they are around her and find comfort in her words. if you're with her for very long, you soon realize she has learned the tenderness of the Father.

the fall of our last year of school, i helped plan her engagement [one of the best ever and i wouldn't have expected anything less from you, phil] we spent the year preparing for life's next step into marriage and the joys/worries that go along with it. she was one of the many things i had let go of last summer. i stood besides her on her wedding day and handed her over to phil knowing he was the one created to hold her heart. they will celebrate their one year anniversary soon, though not in a fancy hotel or an exotic location, but in the deep south of louisiana. when most couples are too concerned with health insurance or interest rates, having babies or buying cars, holly and phil are rebuilding a city and loving people in desperate need of attention. they're not just donating money to such a cause, but themselves. i like that about them. you see, they don't want to get 'comfortable,' or complacent. someday, perhaps they'll settled down with a mortgage and kids. even then, their spontaneous, adventurous, giving spirit will remain alive.

this is all to say, she's one of my favorites. phil has already left to begin training and holly has the task of finishing her first year of teaching before she joins him. so i came to fill his place...or at least as much as i could. we spent the weekend enjoying each other's conversation, company, and companionship. no tourist-y things to do, places to visit, or schedules to tire ourselves over.

we let the sun [or the dog, thank you traveler] wake us up. we enjoyed breakfast and silence on the porch each morning followed by long walks around town. on friday she took me to school with her and i witnessed the crazy life as a teacher. what powerful opportunity to reach lives, but how utterly exhausting. her students asked me again and again to repeat words for them because they loved hearing me say 'bag' [they say it like the 'bag' in bagel] we visited the little shops downtown and i ate cheese curds for the first time. we read books and took naps. we ate late dinners with red wine and fell asleep watching movies. we challenged each other and prayed together.

i decided someday, in addition to a porch swing, i must have a hammock under a big oak. i also decided as much as i liked walking with a dog, i don't like taking care of one.

it was the best kind of vacation.
time to reflect, refresh; to reconnect and redirect.
yes, it was nice.

and one day, my friend, we'll meet again on your porch. you'll drink your coffee and i'll drink my tea. you'll tell me what phil did to make you laugh and the latest adventure you two are planning. i'll share stories from india and of the mishaps that always seem to find me. we'll laugh about 'bottom noodles' and 'mom socks' even though no one else understands. we'll smile knowing such friendship is unique and seems to grown stronger with time. we'll sit together at our Father's feet and give thanks for the journey. He will continue to be faithful and all will be well.