Friendship across the miles

One of my very dear friends from Washington, D.C. came to visit this weekend. It was so wonderful to see her, and I so enjoyed catching up with her, showing her around Nashville, exploring fun city jaunts, laughing at inside jokes, and just spending time together. The time went by way too quickly though, and I was so sad to say goodbye to her this afternoon. It made me so happy to spend time with an old friend in my new city; but at the same time, after saying goodbye, my heart felt so empty. Like when I was in college and I would return back to campus after a weekend at home with the family. It's like you remember was you are missing. And you miss it even more. The old friends, the family, the familiarity of it all. And then I begin to wonder, what the heck am I doing here.

But there is a resounding peace that I am where I am where I am supposed to be, and it drowns out the nagging unfamiliarity, uncertainty, and unknown.

I know that the Lord is calling me to open my heart to new experiences, new friendships, new horizons; blessings that have already been been touching me in subtle but profound ways here in Nashville.

But I am ever so thankful for those old friendships; for those people who know me, know what makes me tick and what makes me laugh. It is a gift. Even if my family and friends, the people I love the most, live far away, I take solace in the words of St. Francis:

Never think that geographical distance can ever separate souls whom God has united by the ties of His love. The children of the world are separated one from another because their hearts are in different places; but the children of God, having their hearts where their treasure is, and sharing only one treasure--which is the same God--are consequently always united and joined together.
~St. Francis de Sales

Amen.