Dave,
Your return is approaching... I am greatly looking forward to reconnecting.Isn't it interesting how time stretches as we get older. It's a good thing we develop patience with age (or should, anyway) because it seems that important things can take so long in coming.
Here are some examples:
A. You and I hanging out. You take off for six months to a far off place, and I have to wait all that time for you to come back (even if for a short stay). Six months is not short, but then again, it's not long in adult time.
B. Girl. I've been waiting for this one for around 23 years. Still waiting.
C. Direction. I think this is more walked than "found." But our life directions are still things we seek, and often don't find until we look back on where our footsteps are. And then we might say, "Oh, God, that's my path."
D. Heaven... and the fulfillment of all good things. This is a life-time pursuit. Never having, yet never totally lacking. But we live in tension, with a great hope of our true country. Patience rules the day, when the day is hard and heaven sounds more and more appealing.
I suppose "wanting and getting" is not the most important operation in life. It's more walking and being. Living and loving. These kinds of things are not so concrete. Not so gratifying. More discovery oriented. The Buddhists are right in many ways, detatchment is functional for spirituality.
