Something bright

Early Sunday morning when most people are sleeping I'm driving home from an all night poker game. It was at least a thirty minute drive and I was eager to get home and fall asleep in my warm bed. Driving home early in the morning after playing poker all night has become a frequent occurance over the last few months. Each time it happens I feel extremely tired and wonder why I stayed up all night. This time I noticed something else.

The sun wasn't up but it was dark either. The sky in the east was just starting to lighten up with yellow mixing in with the darkness creating varying shades of blue, turqoise, and yellow. I have seen similar pre-sunrises many times lately but this one was different in the energy it seemed to possess and radiate. I couldn't help but stare at the sky wanting to drive to a vantage point and watch the sun come up with in the next hour. I knew the marvel of the morning sky was immenint and this strange precursar to it held my attention capitive and focused my mind on one thing...there was something big coming.

A year ago I wouldn't have watched nor gotten caughten up in the awe & wonder of the experience. A year ago I was applying to Denver Seminary's Masters of Counseling program. I hoped to graduate while working part time for a few years and enter the counseling profession shortly after graduation...that was what I thought my life would be like. I had it all planned out.
But after a semester of full time work, part time grad school and almost more then part time volunteer work and discovering the counseling program wasn't as flexible with working adults as I hoped & needed, I droped out of the program.

About two weeks ago I was hanging out in sports bar and started talking to a guy named Shannon. We talked about sports, hobbies, and our professions. At one point he asked me what I was passionate about and how I wanted to get there. It was then that I realized not only was I off the course I had set for myself but I was drifing aimlessly. He started talking about having goals in life and how it helped him get to where he wants to be. He also mentioned he mentors people and pours himself into teaching & training others to help them reach their professional goals.

I will probably never run into Shannon again never see him teach nor recieve any training. But the realization about having a goal to move towards lit up my mind. As I drove home last Sunday morning starring at the at sky I couldn't help but reflect on what Shannon said. If I have goals and move towards them, then my future will be bright and big things will happen.