"Will the future ever arrive?...Should we continue to look upwards? Is the light we can see in the sky one of those which will presently be extinguised? The ideal is terrifying to behold, lost as it is in the depths, small, isolated, a pin-point, brilliant but threatened on all sides by the dark forces that surround it, nevertheless, no more in danger than a star in the jaws of the clouds."
Three old friends had dinner together on Thursday night at Milestones.
For the past couple of years Milestones was "their place", ever since two of them met up for that first summer patio lunch, spent catching up and drinking red wine and blackberrytinis, after they had both suffered devastating loss.
The third member of the group was there for the next Milestones visit, and three friends who hadn't seen each other in a long while were reconnected. Every second Friday became "therapy night" and the rest is history.
It was the perfect idea really, having a group of friends close enough to tell your secrets to, yet far removed enough from your life to alleviate any worry of your own personal hell being leaked to the masses.
During the past two years, at different times, one or the other of them has lost family, friends, relationships, a marriage, a baby, faith, jobs, homes...it was probably one of the hardest times in their lives, although we know there are always many more challenges ahead that will demand to be met.
But I think it's a testimony to the human spirit that even after all of that suffering, on Thursday night, they could sit there with their 1) Bellini 2) Blackberrytini 3) Red Wine and Laugh.
And look at the progress they've made this past year: there has been one wedding, and one beautiful baby girl. Another relationship was solidified, and a house has been bought so they can build a home there together. As for the third member of the group, we're not sure where she'll land just yet. But things are getting better and she's moving on. She's meeting new people, taking on new challenges and apparently she looks really, really happy these days. She's finally ready to stop crying and start giving back again.
The funny thing about the future is that it will be what it will be. Some things we can control, some things we can't. But the future will come eventually, and it is always filled with possibility for something better, brighter, happier.
Two years ago, this - this good place right now - was going to be their future, even though they had no idea at the time. All they had to do was keep moving forward, even when it was so dark that it was impossible to see a path forward, and trust the sun would shine again someday soon. :)
great post m :)
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