Maybe you've had an experience like this. A twenty-something year old friend of my daughter's stayed with us for the first time. Since my daughter had to work, I got to entertain her friend on her first full day with us. That morning, she stayed in her room until about 10:30 - 11:00. She had been awake for quite some time by then, but, unsure of what time I got up and not wanting to bother me, she waited in her room until she was certain I was up.
What I hadn't had a chance to tell her before she went to bed the night before is that I'm an early riser and, if she was interested, I would take her to Lake Tahoe while my daughter was at work. I don't know if you've been to Tahoe, but to me It's one of the most beautiful places on earth. Since she's from the east coast, I doubted she had ever been there and I would loved to have shared that with her.
But she didn't know that.
By the time she came out of her room and we got her fed, it was too late to head up the hill and get back by the time my daughter got home from work. Instead, we enjoyed a nice visit while I showed her around our little town and the surrounding area. It was still a lovely day, but as much as I love my home town, it's no Tahoe. Tahoe is breathtaking. Just look at it!
How often do we do that in life? How often do we sit politely behind our closed door, so to speak, when God, Life, the universe, whatever your belief system calls it, has something much more planned for us? But our guest was just trying to use good manners, you may say. True, but she could've been equally polite by coming out of her room, sitting on the couch, and scrolling quietly on her phone or reading, if I wasn't up yet. If she had done that, we could've gone.
Believe me, this is not a criticism, just an observation. I've been on both sides of that guest room door and my guess is you have, too. I've been the guest not wanting to disturb my host and I've been the host awaiting my guest.
This time as the host knowing we could have had gorgeous Tahoe, but due to a choice, got nice Yuba City, instead, I have to wonder how many times my choices have gotten me "nice" when I could've had "gorgeous" if only I'd put myself out there a little more.
In life, we don't always know for certain what opportunities await us. I don't know about you, but I'm going to make more of an effort to "come out from behind my door" and be there to receive.