The Inexorable March

Time marches dependably forward -- at least if you're human and not divine.  Few things are more bizarrely eerie than the phenomenon that takes place when you go to be with an ill family member.  For you and those with you, time nearly stands still and almost everything revolves around this individual for whom all have gathered.  Whether it is time spent in a waiting room, or a home whose family life wraps around the chair where that individual sits -- life is different under these circumstances.  Things slow down, priorities change, we are aware of different issues.

What punctuates this oddity is when life resumes in the acceleration lane.  Suddenly we find ourselves pulled forward, our pace quickened as we recognize the rest of the world hasn't been on watch with us.  Life has gone on without our awareness.  Perhaps nothing makes this more clearly evident than the well intentioned questions we face when we get back to the rest of life.  "So, how's your [insert relationship here]?"

Most often of course a very quick cursory response will do.  But on the occasions when we know people want to know more than "fine," it is often hard to frame words around the experience accurately.  We may find ourselves guarded as well, not always knowing ourselves whether we are ready to fully embrace the developments others want to hear.

Our family has returned to Roanoke from NoVa.  I'm not sure how to answer the question "How's your Dad?"  But I appreciate the intent of those who will inevitably ask it tomorrow.  I'm glad to be home.  But the mail here was a timely reminder that life goes on.  And one way or another, so must we when we find ourselves colliding with expectations.  Perhaps this is one powerful lesson we can learn from the numerous stories of the Old Testament.  No matter how bizarre, incredible, powerful, and even miraculous those events were; each generation had to learn from what happened before them and realize that time and God's plan continue to move forward.

I'm glad for breaks from the routine of life.  But when we pull away from our responsibilities with job and daily life to tend to family, it doesn't quite feel like a vacation.  Either way, life goes on.  May we learn from the lessons God teaches us to make the most of each moment -- however it is spent.