I’ve been recently needing to go through all of my iPhone contacts. It’s just like going through an old-fashioned address book
(remember those? does anyone have one of those anymore, or have we all gone to an iBook of addresses… Electronic bits and bytes that come together to convey stories and trigger distant memories…)
It’s like walking down memory lane, with all of your friends, acquaintances or family crossing your path along the way.
Seeing most names brings back a lot great memories with family and friends.
It can also be a bit like that end of year tradition where the news media walk through all of those who passed on during the year prior. I catch myself thinking about someone, and then remembering that she is no longer with us. He watches from the stars above, joining my grandparents, my mom, my friends Scott, Phil and others unnamed.
As they say, these are the saints of our families who have gone on before us…
Pausing to reflect a little on my iWalk down memory lane, I’m reminded of a saying a friend taught me in my recent past.
“People are in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.”
This really makes it a little easier for me to stay in the moment with relationships – loving what they are bringing to my life at that moment… not worrying about what our history could or should have been… nor assuming this moment implies or doesn’t imply something for the future…
This perspective on life also helps me grieve through the ending of any relationships or acquaintances, accepting that each connection has its own unique mission, its own life expectancy. The importance of each connection is not dependent on its length, frequency or intensity.
Each has value;
they all have purpose.
I cherish them all…
Thank you for listening…
And then, someone asked about the meaning of 42…
…exactly!
The Magical Storybook of Professor Peacock 