Reconciliation

I'm a big fan of reconciliation.  I have seen it take place many times, often in my own life, but also in the lives of others.  I am convinced that there is nothing better on the face of the planet and nothing that demonstrates God's existence more than people who were enemies become friends once again.  Without Him, I believe, we would not have the capacity or the need for reconciling, even though we may not think He has anything to do with it.  Even if we refuse to see it, God is all about reconciliation.

Today I sat at Starbucks for over 3 hours with two people who I never thought I would be sitting with individually let alone collectively.  One was my dear friend, Holly and the other was my 18 year old daughter Alessandra.

Holly and I were friends years ago, for many years, and we had a falling out.  Neither of us can either recall what it was about and it doesn't even matter now.  About a year ago, after one of my friends, Amy, passed away suddenly (we had been estranged as well) I immediately reached out to Holly, asking if she would be open to reconciliation.  She instantly said that she was interested and we had dinner and drinks within a week or so.  It was as if time stood still and we picked up exactly where we left off over 6 years before, the last time we talked.

Alessandra is my daughter who I adore but with who I have had a strained relationship at best in the past few years.  A month ago she moved to California for a fresh start, but things didn't work out as she planned and now she's back.  When she left we were not getting along very well, but in the short amount of time she was gone she grew up a bit and so did I.  I have learned more about my daughter in the past few days than I've ever known and it has been nothing short of a miracle.

So the three of us sat and talked for hours, mainly because Allie is struggling with getting past some hurtful things and doesn't even know where to start.  But the desire is there. Like Allie, Holly has had some of the same struggles and is currently working through her issues.  It was my idea that the three of us meet so that Allie could have someone to talk to that could relate better to her than I.  It was an amazing, cathartic day for which I am thankful.

But none of it took God by surprise.  He uses every little thread and piece of our lives to make us whole, even it if takes a while.  For He has all the time in the world. 

While neither Holly nor Allie has the same spiritual beliefs as me, at one point I got teary-eyed, saying that if Holly and I had not reconciled, then Allie and I would not be meeting with her on this day. Allie went through what she went through and Holly went through similar things, decades before, yet God brought both of them together, along with me, for this purpose, at this time.  It is just amazing to me...and I am so grateful.

Reconciliation is one of God's greatest gifts to people.  It restores the soul, makes us feel fulfilled (Holly's words) and is ultimately so good for us.  I believe that, now more than ever, after spending hours in a coffee shop in Denver on a Sunday August morning.