His grace creations!

Offering Directions for the Journey

My Friend’s Story

I worked with Cheryl (not her real name) for a little over three years and came to care deeply for her as a sister.  Being her older ‘brother’ by a couple of years I even found myself wanting to protect her, though in most things she seemed more than able to fend for herself.

She always wanted to be informed about things going on around her, even the stuff that wasn’t really her business. Once when she approached me in her best, "What was that all about?" manner, I kidded her about her need to be in the know.

After we had a laugh and she admitted that knowing everything that went on was really important to her, I began to think about her spiritual journey. I wanted to find out where she was on the path and hoped I’d find us at about the same place. I decided to send an e-mail to get things started.

 

Scott to Cheryl - Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:51 PM

OK...Here’s one for ya. In your search to find out everything, do you think there is one thing to know about that is more important than anything else?

 

Cheryl to Scott - 5 minutes later

Ok smarty pants. Yes, there is one thing but I’m still trying to find out what.

 

Scott to Cheryl - 10 minutes after that

Sorry L - Not tryin to be a smarty pants. Actually, I might have a lead for you on the all-important one thing.

 

Cheryl to Scott - In 3 minutes she wrote back and said...

What?

 

Scott to Cheryl - More than an hour passed before I replied.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you...I headed for lunch just about the time of your last question. The lead I spoke of is another question. It’s one that I read. Here goes...

"What good will it be for a man [and I assume women also] if he gains the whole world [wealth, power, fame, love, children, happiness, friendships, ‘knowledge’, etc.], yet forfeits his soul?"

 

Cheryl to Scott - Just 4 minutes later

Oh my!

 

It took me nearly an hour to compose the response which follows…

 

Scott to Cheryl

Does that take the breath away?

 

Cheryl to Scott

yes indeed

 

I wrote one more email to Cheryl that day, asking if she wanted to discuss the ‘big question’ I had posed. Her reply the next day was short and polite and negative. She wasn’t ready for that kind of discussion.

That’s the end of Cheryl’s story, at least for now. We’ve discussed this topic only briefly since that day. There’s so much I’d like to ask her but something tells me to wait and hope and pray that she’ll bring it up on her own.

 

Some pathways are peaceful and serene, like the one pictured above.  But many times the way is more difficult to travel.  It’s not easy having a sensitive heart.

We’d love to hear from you about Cheryl’s story.  Perhaps you want answers about something you heard or maybe you’d like to share an experience from your own spiritual pathway.  All you have to do is click anywhere on the scene above to send us your question or comment. 

 

Where Are You?

“At a Cross Road” is one of the stories from“Pathways” which is maintained by “Listening Hearts,.”