It was mid-October, I think, because I remember we were talking about the MLB playoffs.  I was at the back of the Panera Bread in the Arboretum which is one of the places that I’ll typically work when Im in between appointments or need a different environment or perspective. I forget what I was working on that day but its not important. 

I don’t remember exactly how we got to talking.  It’s not really my MO to make small talk with strangers when I’m trying to get things done but for some reason I got into a conversation with this guy - an older gentleman.  Actually, I did a lot of listening while he talked about everything from baseball to golf to business to books.  He was full of bravado and opinions. 

He asked what what I did and when I told him, that got us off on a number of other tangents.  He had me in a verbal headlock for a good 30-45 minutes.  The whole time I was looking for an out to end the conversation and get back to business.  He was a nice guy and the conversation was good enough, its just that I was trying to get something done and he acted like he hadn’t a care in the world. 

Fast forward to yesterday.  I open the paper and for whatever reason I find myself glancing at the obituaries while thumbing through that section of the paper (weird habit of mine).  I see the picture of the gentleman from Panera. The column started, ” __________, 75 years old, passed away peacefully on Saturday surrounded by family after a long battle with lung cancer.  It stopped me in my tracks. I recognized him immediately and much of the story his obituary lined up with what I remember from our conversation.  Lung Cancer - wow, I had no idea - but how could I?

It wasn’t so much that I mourned this guy’s death because I didn’t know him outside of our brief interaction.  I’d seen him one or two other times over the past couple of months but we were never close enough to make eye contact or re-engage in conversation. 

Thoughts rushed through my head.  How long had he been dealing with this illness?  Quite a while I suppose.  He was probably at the point where aside from the fact that he was dealing with a life threatening illness, the rest of the details of life had become insignificant.  I’d imagine he was trying to make the best of whatever time he had left and that causal conversation we shared had more significance to him that anything that I possibly could have been working on that day.  Puts things into proper context. 

It reminds me of that poem about how people come in and out of our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  I have no way of knowing (yet) why this guy passed through my life in that moment and why I just happened to catch his obituary when I read the paper maybe twice a week.  Still, I have to think that it happened for a reason and some day that might be apparent. 

I do remember that he droned on and on about one book that he recently read - 7 Days in Utopia.  I did immediately add it to my Amazon wish list where it has lingered ever since.  Maybe its time for me to read that book for some reason. 

Makes you wonder? 

Photo courtesy of boobook48 via the Flickr Creative Commons License

fancyhands:

work. what does it mean to you? pick two. (via @af)

Its amazing how much life as you know it really does change when you have a baby.  Pre-baby and pre-marriage, I was known to be in front of my laptop for business and/or personal reasons pretty much until I went to bed at night. 

After-marriage and pre-baby, I decided to make a conscious effort to put the computer and work responsibilities away by 7pm at the latest.  Obviously, if I was negotiating a contract or had to take an important client call later at night, I would but I did my damnedest to focus on time away from work.

As recently as early January I espoused to incorporate some of the 4 hour work week principles into my daily business routine.  I wanted to be more efficient and effective by focusing strictly on the priorities and working fewer hours. 

Well, I may not have found the key to the 4 hour work week, I but sure found the key to the 4 hour work day.  The recipe calls for having a baby, working from home and trying to be a great dad and husband all while running a business at the same time. 

I have been tracking my time the past 3 weeks to get a feel for the amount of uninterrupted time that I am able to devote exclusively to business development and activity.  Its less than stellar.  Im now forced to work when I can, most notably when its quiet, like right now at a quarter to eleven at night. 

Pre-baby-me would have been dead asleep by now or reading in bed ready to pull the plug on the day.  Daddy-me is trying to play catch up while the munchkin sleeps and before she wakes up for her next feeding.  I could try to sleep myself but this feels more productive. 

Finding my way and learning to swim up river until the current subsides a little.  

This seems to be becoming a Thursday afternoon ritual. Giving mommy a little time off. (Taken with instagram)

Matthew Kelly is one of, if not my favorite author and speaker.  If you scroll through these pages you will see numerous references to his book, The Rhythm of Life, (my all-time favorite) along with quotes and nuggets I have pulled from his work.  I’m currently reading another book of his, Rediscovering Catholicism, and came across this passage today that resonated with me. 

I am more intimately aware than ever before that we all waste life.  We waste it one day at a time, a day here and a day there.  We waste some days caught up in unforgiveness, and we waste other days immersed in frivolous and irresponsible activities. 

Life is passing us by.  Life is wonderful but brief, and yet, filled with unimaginable potential.  Within each of us, there is a light.  It is the light of God, and when it shines, it reflects not only the wonder of God, but also the greatness of human spirit.  We live in difficult times.  I pray that we never become fearful, but rather, that we turn our focus to nurturing the light within us.  I hope that we allow the light within us to be nourished and to grow.  Darkness has one enemy that it can never defeat - light. 

Let your light shine!

This is as “Valentines Day” as it gets at our house. (Taken with instagram)