Curve balls....

Who can really hit a curve ball? Of course great hitters come to mind, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Mark McGuire...but really...who among us can hit a curve?....Most of us think we can handle straight up the middle, hanging just over the plate..."as long as I can see it coming..." We love to use phrases like that to talk about all the things we choose to do, and all the things we don't choose but that come to us anyway. Most of us prefer our troubles to come in manageable quantities and in convenient time frames...however, there is always the curve. Little things, big things, you can always count on a curve when you step up to the plate...

I went to a farewell open house tonight for a good friend who is moving. There were so many people there all of whom somehow fit into the "friend" category. People who are so different from each other, and yet who all share common threads that bind us together. Change is amongst us. In listening to many of those who gathered express love and appreciation for the one who is moving...it touched my heart just how lucky we are. No matter what form our curve balls come in... no matter who, where, or what we are our friends are there to cheer us on. They love us despite our imperfections, they see the good in us when others don't, they make us smile through our tears.

My friend isn't moving because she wanted a new house, she is moving as a product of a bad economy. She is going in a new direction...because a curve ball is taking away her home. While my mind is sympathizing with her for her loss, my heart is overflowing for her because of her blessings. She is truly among friends. She has been given the opportunity to see her impact on so many people and the chance to feel the love of all those she has touched. Amazing how we have been given, exactly what we need to step up to the plate and hit away...Curve balls....sometimes can be our greatest blessing...