the challenge: to keep meeting.

We have been blessed with the opportunity to go out without our son – each Thursday – for about two hours. This time together has been beautiful in remembering what life was like pre-Phin, while also allowing us the opportunity to share in the quiet. Since my wife's parents live & work nearby, we are gifted with the ability to spend one evening alone, together.

Tonight we chose to spend the evening with some friends we met at Mosaic. We have actually known them for a few years and have talked many times about gathering together outside the coffee house. Tonight we finally put our words into action. Knowing our friends are Vegetarian and knowing of a fantastic restaurant with amazing Veggie burgers – we all joined up for a meal together at the Counter.

Once home, tonight's outing caused me to think about life and two challenges we (and I suppose many others) find ourselves facing:

1. Children: We love to spend time together. However, now for 17+ months having a child has drastically challenged us in coordinating nap times, bed times and finding time to spend with friends. As social people, children cause us to slow down and re-evaluate. We re-evaluate our furniture placement, our audio and visual entertainment, and our time away from the home. Having a child (or multiple) causes us to put our child's needs before our own. Not a bad thing – but it happens. It is harder to go out when your kid needs to go to bed.
   
2. Finances: As we strive to live simplistically, fiscally responsibly, and kingdomly (that's not really a word is it?) it is quite difficult. Our culture is not designed to encourage us. Our society thrives on our over indulgence. The very act of gathering together with friends necessitates the spending of resources.
   

Tonight's date-night or night-out, or whatever we want to call it, serves as an excellent reminder that in light of the challenges facing us – we must continue to meet together. We must not allow the temptation of location to lull us to sleep. We must not permit the excuse of children, work, pets, family, and dare I say finances (?) to distract us from perhaps one of our most basic needs – gathering together, telling stories, laughing together - and sharing life.

I hope in the coming days, weeks and months that we continue longing for the interactions of the familiar face, loving embrace, and grace filled walk of friendship.