Yesterday afternoon, I spent most of the day going back and forth from the bathtub to the TV, watching the dramatic events unfold as approximately 12 tornadoes ripped through North Texas. In an instant, the lives of several hundred people was changed. Thank God, there weren't any fatalities with this severe weather event, but many people lost their homes and possessions.

As I sat in my kitchen watching the weatherman notate the names of familiar landmarks and thoroughfares, I took a mental inventory of all the stuff in my house I would try to save in the event this happened to me.

I was shocked to realize that most of what I have, I didn't think I'd be that broken up about losing. I would hate to love photos, of course, keepsakes from family and loved ones, backups of all my writing projects, and a few cherished pieces of jewelry. Why, then, am I holding on to all this stuff that doesn't really mean all that much to me? Why is it even taking up space in my house when I clearly don't need it?

We all need a fresh start sometimes, and even though, thank God, I did not have to go through the nightmare of losing everything, the prospect of doing so forced  me to look at my life direction with new perspective.

Our tomorrows are never guaranteed, so we should live as if today was our last day on earth. If we're holding on desperately to a lifestyle or a home or a place or a job simply because we are afraid of losing it, what are we missing out on? Sometimes, God takes away something we think we can't live without in order to force us to depend on Him for everything we need.

Lunch with my friend was extra special today, because I realize that friends are gifts from God--they move in and out of our lives according to a schedule that we do not write. God allows for the confluence of events that brings them across our path, and the duration of their stay is up to Him, not how close we live to them or how often we get together.

And as I move forward with this new direction in my professional life, I know friends, family, and clients will grow geographically more distant. This does not mean I will be alone: for I am never, ever alone. I cherish the times I have with my kindred spirits, and when it is time for us to part ways, I will not try to hold us together. I feel very blessed and loved in my life, and I face an uncertain future with light and hope in my heart.