At the Intersection of Yesterday and Tomorrow
Dear
Girlfriends,
I have a
new friend in my life; her name is Terri. I just love this quick-witted gal who
entered my world via one of my best guy friends (it appears he does, after all,
have good taste in women). During dinner one evening with the boys, Terri
shared a story with me about a very recent crossroads in her life. This one
might have you, like me, turning on your blinker.
During her
senior year in high school, Terri returned to the United
States, from Brazil, with her family. What could
have been an awkward, lonely time was instead 52 weeks of teen-age bliss. This
charismatic kid was quickly adopted by her fellow classmates in her suburban Michigan school, and especially
by a girl named Marny.
Terri and
Marny became inseparable, and the term "opposites attract" clearly applied to
this odd couple. Spirited, adventurous Terri taught Marney how to have fun (and
not get caught); in return, the studious Marny introduced Terri to "the word
of the week," hoping to expand Terri's vocabulary and heighten her interest in
her schoolwork. I can just picture this "Oscar and Felix" team watching the
boys from the bleachers (they did have that
in common). After
graduation they went to their respective colleges, keeping in touch and
visiting one another often. Until one visit when Terri got her feelings hurt.
Fueled by jealousy, Terri allowed her immature reaction to an innocent mistake to
override their deep and dear friendship. Because she never revealed or honestly
discussed the situation with Marny, Marny was left in the dark as to what had
come between her from her best friend in the world. Marny finally gave up and
withdrew from their friendship after Terri became unpredictable and irresponsible,
often canceling plans with Marny at the last minute. Knowing she was being
immature and hurtful, Terri said she still allowed her ego to trump
truthfulness, never admitting that her feelings had been hurt or that she
harbored a grudge.
A few years
later, still estranged, they meet at a friend's wedding but the two didn't even speak.
And at their 10-year reunion this dynamic duo, once as thick as flies, could
only be seen having a cool, cordial conversation in passing. They sat at the
intersection of hurt feelings of yesterday and reconciliation for tomorrow, and
both turned to the wounds of yesterday. Neither would allow the healing of
their scraped knees.
But when we
allow it, time can work its magic, and hearts do soften - especially when we
finally grow up and realize how few tomorrows we really have.
Preparing
for her 20-year reunion, Terri realized it was time to turn on her blinker. Holding
her breath as she clicked the send button, Terri resolutely reached out to her
buddy from so long ago. I asked Terri, "Were you afraid you'd be rejected?" She
answered, "I didn't think about that. I just knew this was the right thing to
do."
Sitting
under a tree on their high school lawn, the best friends reunited and began the
journey toward reconciliation. Catching up on 20 years of joys, disappointments,
successes, and failures, Terri said all she could think was 'what a loss'.
Girlfriends, there's a good chance that most of us either have or will sit at this
intersection with an old friend. Are you still turning onto yesterday, refusing
to let your scraped knee heal? Take a chance and take a right onto tomorrow; I
have heard that reconciliation might be in the next block.
We read that we ought
to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to
forgive our friends. - Sir Francis Bacon
Sending my
email,
Ellen
Posted by Ellen on April 9, 2008 8:25 PM
| Category: Crossroads
|
