From the very beginning, we find ourselves gathering things. We pick them up and put them in our pockets, on our backs, in our hearts. We are hoarders in this game of life; convinced we need to hang on to it all. Experiences. Memories. Joy. Pain. Suffering. Triumphs. Failures. Hellos. Goodbyes. At each fork in the road, we take an inventory of all our baggage. What can we shed? What should we keep? What will help us or drag us down on the next leg of our journey?
When our path finally crosses the one we are meant to share the rest of our lives with, we sit down right there in the middle of the road. And we empty our pockets. We drop our bags. We open our hearts. We bear our souls. We hang our head in shame as we wait for the other to judge and criticize; as we unequivocally believe we are unworthy. But then a gentle hand reaches out and raises our eyes to theirs. We suddenly see ourselves as they see us. Not as lost and broken, but as found and whole. Valuable. Precious. Beloved.
As the dust settles, together, we find gems amongst the clutter. Honesty. Humility. Strength. Compassion. Integrity. Love. And we leave the rest behind. Piles of hurt and struggles and pride and chaos no longer able to slow our progress or diminish our light. Hand in hand, we walk away. Freed from our past with someone to share all that is yet to come.
Wherever the path now leads, the burdens are lightened by the shared load and the happiness is magnified by the collective spirit. Two paths… two hearts… two lives… become just one!