Middle of August, I had an impromptu yet much needed retreat with a couple of friends. Saturday night was spent drinking great coffee, gazing at the stars and braving the cold. I was rewarded with a brief glimpse of a falling star and a last song syndrome because of it. Maybe by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack is echoing in my head. The realizations I had is a little out of context (it is a song about a second chance at love, so it is waaaay off topic), so bear with my ramblings.

And if the answers don’t come quick we’ll go with how it feels
And sometimes that’s not yes or no but…maybe…

Answers can never come quickly enough for me. And true to form, my questions regarding calling and career are being answered in suspenseful slowness. Also, I usually go with what I feel, so the current mood swings about my job is not helping. This weekend, two things were impressed upon me by the Spirit: take the road less travelled and consider the interests of others. No matter what I feel. Very specific… yet helpful.

And if we learn to keep it free and let each other grow
We’ll find out there’s no yes or no just… maybe

This realization I had regarding relationships. I am experiencing a little separation anxiety over friends; it seems like when I finally had time for people, they were the ones who became too busy this season. Or, in the case of a mentor, they leave for good. =( So I keep on learning to say hello and goodbye with gladness. And keep friendships, not with a grasping fist, but an open palm.

Maybe there’ll be no falling stars this time around
I still believe that…

My companions were trying to name the constellations and stars that night. I realized that in my years of appreciating the heavenlies, I could not identify a single formation. And while I am a self-avowed caffeine addict, I can never distinguish among the coffee varieties I drink by the gallon. So I realized that:

Sometimes, you don’t need names or labels. You enjoy and appreciate them just because they are there. While they are there.