View from the Summit

Recent stats show that on average you check your smart phone 150 times per day. Wow, that makes me tired. Even with all that obsessive checking, have you come to the place where you hate answering the phone?

I’m guessing that when you look down at the caller ID at least one of these thoughts will usually race through your mind:

• I can’t wait to answer.
• I dread this call.
• He sucks the life out of me.

• This will be energizing & empowering.

• I wonder what he wants?
• I’m always excited to take his call.
• He must want or need something, it’s the only time I hear from him.
• Ugh! I hate answering the phone (thank goodness for caller ID)

Having raised two girls, now 28 and 31, I look back on how I did?

There are so many areas I could have done better, but one place I did fairly well was being available. I have asked my daughters as adults to be very candid about places I excelled and others places where I dropped the ball. We're not discussing where I dropped the ball today, haha. 

It was very early this morning and I was sitting in my sunroom, going through my normal ritual of prayer and meditation.

It was dark in the room, coffee in hand; the only light shinning was a reflection from the snow. Going over a mental list of family, friends and clients made me extremely conscience of those I so deeply care about. Looking at the two matching chairs on the opposite side of the room made me uncomfortably aware that someday, one of them would be empty. Oh no, this is impossible, that can't be true. This is where we drink morning coffee, watch the birds and plan our day. This is the very location that's designated for our afternoon reflections. This is where we share our successes and address our trials. However, one day, hopefully not very soon, one chair will be empty.