SACRED MEETINGS

I think I have made reference to my early professional career getting jump started by slightly over 10 years with IBM.  Those were the glory years when personal and professional development were high on the requirements list for every employee.  As such, regular classes were mandatory.

I signed up for one while I was on assignment in New York City.  The Class was in Los Angeles, and it was great fun to board a 747 on an upgrade and head west.  I cannot for the life of me remember the topic…but I believe it was something technical and there were students from all over the place including one from Cincinnati.

Before giving you a few more facts from the story – I am going to give you the spoiler alert on the point.  Every meeting and interaction has a purpose – I would go so far to say a sacred purpose.  When you are at the post office or the grocery store, it may not be apparent but if you greet each interaction as a holy opportunity, you may find it easily revealed.  It is both fascinating and fun to discover and celebrate these moments of destiny in action -whether short or longer lasting.

I met someone at that class – oh yeah that kind of someone.  He was handsome and funny ( sooo funny) and there was some kind of kinetic energy in motion between us.  It wasn’t until the end of class that it turned flirtatious in all the Los Angeles kind of ways…I will leave you to fill in the blanks here.

That interaction led to some great experiences including an unforgettable trip to Greece.  As life goes when you are in motion, and crafting your career as well as your ideal relationship; we went our separate ways (sort of).  As the years passed, we also checked in from time to time via Christmas or Birthday celebrations – sometimes football wins or losses for our respective teams.  I can only speak for myself here, but it always was something I thought would go a different direction – even though there was ample evidence to the contrary.  Marriage, divorce, and death all came over the years in the in-between.

A respectful and genuine appreciation developed over this same time period and in this year it turned again.  This time with wisdom of foresight and acknowledgement once again, that there are no accidents. That sacred and highly sensual meeting over 40 years ago has led to a relationship in this moment which is taking me from California to Ohio and new beginnings.

Its both surprising and a little familiar – you know that feeling that somehow you knew something was coming that had your name on it, but you didn’t know when or who.

Back to the point,- We never know when what seems like a chance meeting is going to lead to a fabulous vacation or Love some years later.  Or perhaps it is someone who will change our lives in ways we cannot anticipate but certainly welcome.

That person in line at the coffee shop or that chance interview for a new position or the other myriad details of our lives that are encoded with Love and possibility.  All we can do is treat each one with the special attention it deserves and watch the unfolding of the gifts that each one brings.

Monday, I fly to Ohio – fully aware that it is a full circle trip – one given and received with the gratitude of how it all began and how it will unfold in the now.  I encourage you to watch carefully this week – a chance encounter may change your life; if not now …sometime down the road hopefully before it is too late.

To Life -L’Chaim.