Preparing to say good by to a friend. . .

For the fifth time in a year I am getting prepared to let a friend transition to the “home” we will all head to one day.  She has been a very dear friend ever since she moved to Naples, where I spend seven months a year.  We have shared many meetings, many movies, many meals, and many laughs over the past fifteen years. And to imagine our circle without her is difficult, very difficult.  She simply was always present, sharing her experience, her strength and her hope with others. And there were hundreds she helped.

I am so grateful that I believe in a “next life.”  It gives me solace to know she will be joining the loving souls I have already said good by to.  I don’t mean for this post to be maudlin.  On the contrary, I think it’s a thrilling adventure that we will all take one day.  I’m reminded that Steve Job’s last words were “Wow. Wow,” according to his wife.  That pleased me greatly when I heard it.  I’m not ready yet for the wow experience but I will be when the time comes.  And I’m happy for my friend that she will get to have that experience soon too.

Some of her friends and I were talking about that impending experience this evening and we all shared one opinion: that the unknown is not to be feared but to be greeted with hope and optimism.  I can’t truly imagine what it will be like but I think the “light” will surround us and pull us forward into a space of spirit-filled comfort.  I’m not certain we will “recognize” those spirit-friends who have passed over before our arrival, but I think we will know them by feel.  I’m convinced they will be waiting for us.

I’m just as certain that if nothing that I choose to believe at this time actually happens, it won’t matter.  Believing what I do now gives me comfort.  Hours of comfort and that gives me great relief.  I need not worry about the future, any aspect of it.  All has been decided already.  My work, here and now, is simply to keep moving forward with love and trust in my heart.  God can only do for me what I am willing to have done and currently one of those things is giving God space to give me the comfort I desire to let a friend move on to her destiny.

We all will meet again.  I am sure of that.  Today I am sure.