Thus began my belief in lasting things ... for she was there ... each seed I have sown since ... there she was... and through the years, my Dad joined her ... adding his wing-tipped advice. Just lately ... I've heard my brother whispering down his advice ... late at night when I couldn't sleep ... through memories ... through love ... through lasting lastingness .... sometimes so very hard to hear, but always there ... Like the hawk which flew over the field after Molly's Dad died ... and bevlar revving up the motor home again, Larry in her heart, if not literally in his seat.
And then you can lose someone without your loved one ever being gone ... through disease ... through disagreements. This may be the most painful of all ... for the possibilities .... the if-onlys haunt you and invade your heart. So ...
*Prayers* for us ALL that we remain focused and true to ourselves ... may we always look for wisdom ... while holding to the lasting things .... may we slow down and listen and speed up and support .... have peace to let go and be fierce to hold on and know the difference between the two...
'Tis true we are only human ... but each step we take ....each step ... makes history in someone's life. I've met people here who preach sermons without words .... and have changed my life ...
Jemian and JRandom ... you're hearin' the pretty music, yes?! 'Tis your Mom and Dad ... knowin' they did a good job ... and so did you .... lastingly good ...
I've the day off today! Yippity-skippity!
'Tis so glorious to have you back with your poetic profundity.
But, alas, you are here to play today and I have to get back to work ... *sigh*
Yup.
I've been trying VERY HARD lately to dwell on those.
For instance.......
Does it matter if my daughter has to go to school another semester? She is so very close to the finish line of graduation.........what difference do a few more classes mean??? She is living on her own, she is growing in strength, she is making her mark in the world...........a bit awkardly, a bit confusedly, but it's HER mark..........she has good mind, and she is stretching it, and she is learning things about life they never taught in school.........these are the lasting things.........
Mom is coming for a visit this weekend.........my sister, several cousins, and an aunt are getting together with us for brunch.......renewing family relationships....we may never get another chance like this.....so we will go and enjoy each other's company......
When we visited our son two weeks ago I looked around at all of the young privates.....wondering how many of them would soon find themselves in a strange, frightening place........wondering what the future holds for my son, he of the vast heart & quirky mind......I held on to him VERY TIGHTLY when we said our good-byes, believe you me........hoping that his future holds merely an extended visit to Texas and several more years of sitting at a desk, learning the things they CAN teach you in school.
I'm glad you have a day off today. I wish I did too. We could maybe sit & have some crepes.......I think blueberry.....and look at the leaf-less maple trees, & at the ice sidewalks and snow-covered grass, and think about the day when it will ALL COME BACK TO US in shades of green, bursting with new life.
Thanks prairie for the Passion link.
Here's a couple of links for the afternoon crowd:
The Jihadis' Primal Scream: Zarkawi's "Yaaarrrhhh!"Michael Ledeen
A scholar argues that Bush's doctrine of preemption has deep roots in American history
This morning my mediation talked about the Master Gardener and you immediately popped into my mind.
"Remember that you are in the hands of a Master Gardener. He makes no mistakes about His pruning. Rejoice. Joy is the Spirit's reaching out to say thanks to Me. It is the new life-sap of the tree, reaching to Me to find such beautiful expression later. So never cease to joy. Rejoice."
Now, you see why this instantly brought you to mind for you are always reaching out with beautiful expression.