My friend Katie Randall wrote on Facebook yesterday, “I was going to complain about how hot it is… then I realized that: 1.) it isn’t 115+ degrees;  2.) I’m not 7,200 miles from home;  3.) I’m not dressed in ACUs and helmet and carrying 70+ lbs.;  and 4.) there is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today!”  Having a husband in the military sure gives you some perspective.

Talking about perspective, I thought how crazy it feels to walk between the worlds, once you’ve had a glimpse of something Greater and Beyond.  To want to sit with friends and care about their conversations, at the same time realizing how pointless so much of the talk is.  That stops being fulfilling real quick.  I’ve got several friends who are fun to be around when I’m in the mood for light, mindless fun.  But I can’t spend much time with them if I’ve been spending time, say, with a friend who is passing and who’s been telling me what she has found meaningful and what she wishes she’d done and what she’d do differently next time.  It puts all the rest in perspective.

I seldom sit through an entire tv show or sit to watch a movie.  I’ve got too many thoughts lined up in my head just waiting for available time, and  they are far more interesting than anything on tv.  I schedule time as part of my daily spiritual practice for giving thought to particular people or projects, a little creative viz, some appreciative reflection, holding a vision for a friend.  Increasingly I find myself prefering to stay on my own and do that than meet with friends for social interaction.  Then, the things I’d like to attend, like the drum circles and the Spacecoast Aqua Tones, happen at a time I need to be sleeping in order to be ready to work overnight.  I’m always glad when I find a friend who shares my odd hours and interest in the work.  Even better if it’s someone I can both have fun with as well as deep, meaningful conversations.  Someone who helps me keep it all in perspective.

Andrea