  Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik My friend Carly lives in L.A. Pursuing her dream of fashion design and marketing, she bravely moved away last September... and it hasn't been quite the same around here since. Famous for blurting out whatever it is she's thinking, but also famous for her huge heart, she's a bright spot in my life. Even from L.A., she beams a ton of love and encouragement my way. At times, we are polar opposites, at others, we are so alike it's scary... One thing we share at the moment is a CRAZY schedule. We've been playing phone tag for about a month, long overdue for a "What happened? " "He said what? " kind of talk. I got a text message on my cell this morning - "Thanks for being so patient with me.
Love you. " Earlier this week, I received a ton of "I'm SO sorry... we'll catch up soons". Although I appreciated her words, she's the kind of friend where no apologies are necessary. It's sweet of her to remind me she cares about us catching up, but she's on a rather short list of people who have already proven they care -- through fighting and making up -- through listening to all the details of my rather nonexistent love life -- through wanting to know the details, even if it means a LONG talk -- and who love me enough to just really listen and laugh with me.
Everyone has a battle they fight in life, and mine has been a bit of self-condemnation with a dash of social anxiety. Most people laugh if I reveal this -- because from a distance, I come off as confident and sure of myself. Especially from the distance of the stage. Watching me behind a guitar or a keyboard, most never know that it is a sheer act of will and leap of faith for me to get up there. It seems the the things we're most passionate about - for me, worship - sometimes take the most courage to pursue. God is growing me... hopefully it won't always be this scary. As I've gotten older and understood my heart and mind a bit more clearly (and most of all, how God already sees me in His grace), it's gotten easier, and second-guessing thoughts don't hold me back in the ways they used to.
Even so, it is a beautiful rarity to find someone with whom I'm genuinely comfortable. Where I don't have to weigh my words, where I don't have to think through how will I come across if I share this part of me ... I can just BE. Such freedom. Such uninhibited joy. These are the gifts my friends bring to me. Carly, you are beautiful and kind and have no reason for apologies. Whether it's this week or a month from now, our catch-up talk will happen, and I'm looking forward to hearing all the little details, all the ups and all the bummers.
Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for letting me be me and for loving me for it. Never feel like you're not missed up here. There are others -- You know who you are -- please know as well how precious you are to me. I try to say it often -- but I guess one more time can't hurt. You are loved. 
