It had been in my to-do pile a couple of years back.
There it had sat with all my other good intentions letters to write, stacks of photos waiting for albums, and ideas for newspaper columns that might tickle a funny bone someday.
Like everything else buried there, reconnecting with my high-school classmate was forgotten, too.
I cant pinpoint how it happened, but somewhere between Glorias Christmas card a year earlier and our computer crash, shed fallen off my radar screen. To contact her, Id need to search for her address.
But I was busy. Very busy. The months flew.
Then, one day, my friend came to mind. Not once. Not twice. But again and again.
Still, I procrastinated. There were errands to run, deadlines to meet. As soon as I had time, Id get a hold of Gloria. Wed catch up on life later.
The thought to contact her had niggled, nudged, prompted. And then, it stopped.
So, in early 2007 when Glorias daughter called with the news that her mothers breast cancer had returned and now she was gone I shouldnt have been shocked. But I was, even though God had repeatedly tried to alert me that Glorias time was short.
Like I said, I had been busy. Very busy.
In the days that followed, time stood still as I grieved and reflected. The phone call had changed me.
I realized that instead of doing Gods will a task specifically for me I had selfishly pushed His request aside. I could only wonder how my words might have comforted Glorias heart as she faced certain death.
Thats something I wont know on this side of heaven.
However, what I do know is this: When I feel a nudge to reach out and touch someones life to be Gods arms of love or to uphold them in prayer His request is not a to-do.
Its a today.
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