Kindred Spirits

Today I had the pleasure of going for lunch with my friend Laura. Our lunch date was a week overdue since last Thursday there was some mix up with Carl's class, and Laura had a doctor's appointment and by the time all was said and done, we couldn't go. I was pretty disappointed, but I learned a bit about myself that day.

I was upset about not going for lunch not because I needed time away (I went grocery shopping all by myself that afternoon and didn't feel any better) but I needed to spend time with a good friend. I crave relationships that go deeper than just surface talk. I used to be a person, many years ago, that loved having a million buddies, and didn't mind that my social calendar was too busy to maintain any type of meaningful relationship. But over the years, I guess with time passing and me getting older....sigh....

as I have matured I have realized that I need at least one good friend whom you can feel safe with and pour out your heart. And Laura is that kind of friend for me. So you can imagine how thrilled I was that it worked out for us to go for lunch today.

We tried out this new Chinese restaurant that was close to her house. As we went in and ordered, we quickly got down to what was happening in our lives. Her, concerned with pre-term labour and being off work and when to move back to Canada, and me, the Mom's retreat and whether or not to serve with M.C.C. or in a church in Canada. As we were sharing, two things came up that confirmed for me that we are definitely kindred spirits.

Laura was asking me about how the Mom's retreat was and I told her that I had a good time but since I was staying by myself in the basement of the cabin I had a bit of trouble sleeping (it just so happened because I was the only one with a baby). Laura leaned forward and looked at me so I continued because I felt a safety in our conversation.

I have never admitted to anyone (except Carl; and now I guess the entire world) that I'm afraid of the dark and that I am easily traumatized by shows like C.S.I, Criminal Minds, Medium, scary movie previews, the news....and this had led me to even be scared to be by myself in case I might fall victim to some crazy murderer. So I admitted to Laura that I had hardly slept a wink at the Mom's retreat because of my fear. Her eyes widened and she blurted out before I could feel uncomfortable, "Oh my gosh! That's totally me. I can hardly sleep if the closet door is open and I won't get up unless the light is on!". What a relief to hear that someone else struggles with the same fear.

As we were getting ready to leave, Laura said that it was meant for us to be friends here in this time and place and that God knew we needed each other. That meant so much. I do believe that and am so thankful for Laura.

We paused before we got up and Laura quickly reminded me to take my leftover container.
So I replied, "I would just cry if I left these yummy leftovers here. Wouldn't that just be awful?".
And so she asked, "Have you ever cried when you left your leftovers at a restaurant?"
"Actually....I have. It was after a date I had with Carl and I was looking forward to having my chicken for lunch the next day. I was so upset that I forgot my food, it was the most disappointing thing that could have happened".
Laura's eyes twinkled and she smiled, "I have too. In fact come back to my place and I'll share my short story I wrote about the heartbreaking event when I left my Steak Gargonzola Alfredo behind".
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"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” George Eliot