The Role of a Lifetime

Act III, Scene II

by Madeleine L'Engle

Someone has altered the script.
My lines have been changed.
The other actors are shifting roles.
They don't come on when they're expected to,
and they don't say the lines I've written
and I'm being upstaged.
I thought I was writing this play
with a rather nice role for myself,
small, but juicy
and some excellent lines.
But nobody gives me my cues
and the scenery has been replaced
and I don't recognize the new sets.
This isn't the script I was writing.
I don't understand this play at all.

To grow up
is to find
the small part you are playing
in this extrordinary drama
written by
someone else.

An Easter Tradition

One thing that I truly love about holidays are the traditions. Since moving to Seattle and being aways from my family for many holidays I have been able to create some new traditions for myself and friends. The Easter tradition that I love the most is my annual trip to Skagit Valley to see the tulip fields in bloom.

This year I was joined by Andrea (our 3rd trip together) and Holly (a new comer to the tradition). We started the morning with some tasty gingerbread waffles at my house, then church before heading off to see the tulips. While the weather in Seattle seemed promising in the morning the further north we went the more ominous the sky became. It was quite cold and windy but we still managed to have fun and enjoy the beautiful display. It only started pouring rain when we were just about done making the trek around the field.

Rain or shine the tulips are always an amazing sight.

When Dreams Collide

Today many Seattle dining establishments are doing a very important thing and donating part (25%) of all sales to relief efforts in Darfur. For more info go to www.dinefordarfur.org. So to support this event the girls from the office and I made a trip to Caffe Fiore (one of the participatng establishments) this morning. It was great to get out of the office for a short time to be in the bright sunshine and do something good for the world, not to mention our tummies. It was my newest co-worker, kate's, first trip to Fiore and as the friendly barista handed up our delicious lattes Kate commented on the hand-stamped cups. Who knew that this would bring about the collision of a dream that both Kate and I share.

I responded to Kate's observation by saying that, someday, when I own my own cafe that I would do the same. Kate then told me that she dreamed of one day owning a cafe too. And as we shared our visions we both became really excited that we shared the same thoughts and ideas of what we wanted our cafe to be like. So right there on the spot we decided that we should pursue this dream together.

Could it be fate that on the day after posting about pursuing one dream that I should find a friend who shares the same passion and excitment for opening a cafe? While it will take a lot of effort and financing to make this dream come true I am excited at the thought of pursuing it and seeing what unfolds from here. Kate would be an amazing business partner because family once owned a bakery so she is talented in the art of baking (for everyone likes a sweet treat with their coffee) and knows what goes into running a small business. I will do more considering if this is the "one" dream that I pour myself into, but I must say it seems quite promising. I'll keep you posted.

To Pick One Dream...and Pursue It

In a recent effort to do some cleaning around the house I came across a stack of birthday cards that I received last year. I read through the messages to see what words of friendship and love I could find. One card in particular contained words that still, days later, are ringing in my ears. Every now and then a friend can blow you out of the water with the depth of insight that they bring. Reading the card from my friend Eric was one of those experiences.

The words that I cannot seem to shake are these. "Take one dream and pursue it, please. For it would be such a waste for such talent and passion to go unused."

A few days before the birthday that Eric and I share we got into a conversation where Eric dared to ask about what my dreams for the future are. Oh, how I hate that question! I have said before that I am a dreamer so my hatred of that question has nothing to do with having nothing to offer up as an answer. My loathing comes from fear. I fear that in speaking a dream aloud, sharing it with another human soul, that somehow if I am not able to bring that dream to fruition that I have failed miserably and that I have disappointed the one to whom the dream is shared. So when someone has the audacity to ask me what my dreams are I tend to speak in vague generalities to save us both any future disappointment.

Eric's comment came, and still comes, to me as a rare mix of loving encouragement and gentle rebuke that only a friend can offer. He caught me being cautious and non-committal with my dreams and gave be a nudge to let go of the fear I have of my own dreams. I don't know if that was Eric's intention in saying what he did or perhaps he became a momentary mouthpiece of God. Nonetheless, these words speak with great power into the hidden places of my heart where I hide my dreams.

All this has led me to think that it is time to follow the words of my friend and pick one dream. One dream to explore and get to know, not be afraid of. One dream to nurture and pursue. So in the days ahead I will pull my many dreams out into the light and see which one stirs the most excitement in my heart when I think of pouring myself into its pursuit. And then I will muster up the courage to share that dream and begin the journey. Wish me luck.