Jul
Moving People, Staying People
Sometimes I wonder what became of the people I used to know. So many have scattered and left no trace of themselves. I used to enjoy their company. Whatever happened? Would I want to meet them again?
Of course, all I have to do is remember why we parted company. A mere handful were caused by difficulties. Most were people who just moved on, or I moved on. We were acquaintances. There had been no need for us to “keep in touch.”
If parting had been so easy, was there ever any reason for our acquaintance?
People come into our lives for various reasons. We meet and get together, and perhaps we become friends. A few stay, and others eventually move out of our lives. We may remember them fondly. Nonetheless, they are gone and we have lost touch with them. Our time together with them served a purpose and was meaningful to them and us. However, in time, their lives moved onward, as did ours. The friendship had served its purpose, and now it was time for everyone to move forward with their lives.
Each of us has our his destination to seek, and there are many who may share part of that journey. Some share more of the journey than others. A few share most of it, but the majority are there for only a portion of the trip. It may be a few hours or days, or it may be months or years.
If you look back on those your remember most fondly, you will see that you both gave and received something unique from each of them. Your meeting was no mere passing friendship. Each brought something that the other needed. Just as their presence helped you on your journey, so you helped them on theirs.
Our lives are colored by the people who we come to befriend. Whether their place with us is permanent or temporary, short term or long, they make a difference for us. We do the same for them. Every life we touch is changed by knowing us, as much as we are affected by knowing them.
As in the myths, our experiences come from both the forward motion and the “cross weave.” This is an apt analogy of the people, places and things in our lives: the ones that stay and the ones that move. In our fond memories of those who are gone, it helps to know that there is a reason that both they and us moved on.
