My mom always called me a tactile person, this means I want to touch everything. For example, when I read books I do it best by running my fingers across the page. This does not keep my spot or help me follow words, it just helps my brain focus more on the words.
This summer I found that if I was talking to someone I would put my hand on their shoulder. If I was walking next to them I wanted to link arms with them or grab their hand. If I greet you or leave you, I’m likely going to want to give you a high five or a hug. If I pass you in the road a high five will be attempted. Depending on how well I know someone I will kiss their heads, rest my head on their shoulder, or just bear hug them, (don’t be intimidated this takes a long time, except in camp environment because everything about friendships goes in hyper speed there. The point being that now, as I am transitioning between three different locations (camp, home and school) I am realizing how I miss people. I miss the way they feel.
One of my friends was trying to sell me on a depressing movie he feels I need to watch by telling me to listen to the story because it “has a heartbeat”. Needless to say I was sold just on impressive wording. I also informed him that I would most likely use that phrase in a blog posting. Ha. Told ya.
If depressing movies have a heartbeat then friendships definitely do. When you get to know someone and you hang around them, you develop a heartbeat. An unstated rhythm that guides your actions. You know where you stand next to that person to accommodate their personal space. You know how to greet them (high five, side hug, bear hug etc) and how to say goodbye. You know when to its okay to link arms in a jig or trust fall on them (Dani!). You learn the most comfortable spot for your head to rest on a shoulder, and which way to sit next to them on a couch (30 some staff - one sofa, one love seat, and one recliner - you do the math).
For each person and each unique heartbeat there is a unique feeling of home. It’s not the same with every person, but for every person I know there is a section of my heart that comes home every time I can be near those people again.
As I move away from the people that I love and invest so much in, I find my heart aching for the rhythm of our friendship’s heartbeat. Its something that you can’t pass through a text message or convey over Skype. Its the reason I could never work with computers, or be a hermit. Its the way God made me and I have to rest in the knowledge that when I see these people again the joy and peace of being home will make up for the empty ache of being apart. Above all else I am thankful for the beautiful heartbeats of each friendship I have been given, they are irreplaceable and a constant joy in my life.
Thank you.
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