Permission to Celebrate

This past week has been a whirlwind; actually more like a roller coaster ride from death knocking on doors to spending time with family, friends and celebrating birthdays, life and everything in between. Thus, I have been overcome with all sorts of emotions from sadness over losing a long time friend to hearing about a loss of someone new I just met to celebrating birthdays and life in the same weekend not to mention anger over the disappointing travel experience.

Although I was suppose to be on an Island spending quality time with my sister, nephew and mom - God had other plans for me. Clearly it was my fault - how do you forget your passport when you’re headed overseas!  This was the most expensive non-vacation vacation.  4 hrs on the phone with American Airlines and a 3 hr airport line just to try and figure out how I can change my travel plans! So….. instead of fighting it; I stayed in Miami a few more days and spent it with my other framily and off course I worked as well….. Don’t ask! But it was my decision to be accessible - for my own sanity so that when I returned to Cali I can have a mini staycation or at least recuperate.  

I had an amazing time celebrating life, laughter and love with friends I’ve known for over 20 years. Somewhere along the way the amazing celebrations, conversations and reminiscing about old times and arguments about emotional intelligence and coping mechanisms - was a reminder that grace and beauty are found right at hand; in the unvarnished moments of everyday experiences. Whether it’s by paying attention to our lives and the precious people in them that we learn how to love and that there is indeed something holy about attending to fleeting moments, and even to the mundane tasks with exquisite care.

It was author Joseph Cambell who said “the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are”. I’m sure it takes most of us a lifetime to fully rise to that challenge including myself. Some leaps will seem small and others sweeping, but they all call us to have faith.  In fact, what I’ve learned is that there are no safety nets. No guarantees. Sometimes we will all fall down, but we don’t always have faith in that even when we fall; we will be okay.  Sometimes, the life we are so busy looking for is the one we already have - imperfect, fleeting, ordinary, extraordinary, whatever it is - its ours!   

I’m constantly reminded that faith is neither a possession nor an achievement, that in fact it’s just a willingness to keep showing up - at the airport, at the kitchen sink, at a birthday, funeral or at a friend’s side, for a loved one or the dinner table. It’s not something to do but a way to be - working in sync with things as they are. These are some words that resonated and showed up as life happened..........