Soul Mate?

"...Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it..."

How profound and elegantly revisited by Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love. At this moment of her story, she's sharing an intimate conversation she was having with a fellow companion in an Ashram in India. Pouring her heart out over a lost love, it triggered a whirlwind of emotions regarding a dear friend of mine. Prior to reading this book, our friendship had finally reached the point of no-return for reasons still unclear to either of us--until I began reading this book. I have numerous friends who are also reading and we giggle at the similarities throughout her story (even down to the names of those in her life--including her own) to that of my own story. It is a fantastic parallel between our lives, one that I am grateful for since, had it not been a gift, I would not have picked up, or purchased, said book.

This segment though...this "soul mate" conversation is one that rings loud and clear in my own mind. It's the nickname my friend and I shared; one that summed up the intimacy and delicacy that our friendship contained--the coexisting in the moment that I didn't even share with my husband. She was my soul mate. And I don't even like using the past tense because I know that she will always hold that place in my heart and be that person to me. But, what Elizabeth's dear friend had said was entirely true. She was my mirror and I, hers. And even though it was never our intent to hurt one another--our friendship was painful. Not merely because of things that we did to one another (mostly unintentional and non-malicious), but because the paths God had taken us down were ones that were difficult. The choices we made also lead to consequences that were less that "pleasing."

With that said, I do "thank God" for every moment she and I shared together. More often than not, she was the sister that I didn't have. More often than not, she was the ear that I needed to "yell in" at all hours of the day. More often than not, she was the one who held me to standards higher than I was holding myself to.

Even still, more often than not, it was "too painful" because we could damage one another beyond repair. And sometimes...we did. Regardless, God placed us together that day we met and allowed us to cultivate a relationship for an eternity (we are sisters-in-Christ after all) because He was/is going to get the glory out of our friendship.

I believe He has.