Well, after a good run, I'm officially moving the "Best Blog in 85297". Turns out it WASN'T the best blog in 85297... probably not even on my street.
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Monday, August 25, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Pain
This has been a painful year for my friends.
First I watched the Blackwell family deal with the loss of a child. Then, Christian and Stephanie Nielson survived a fiery plane wreck and are hanging onto life recovering from severe burns. They have a long and painful recovery ahead of them. A third passenger died in the accident.
No sane person willingly chooses to experience pain. And there’s no rhyme or reason to who or when tragedy hits. What’s interesting to see, though, is how people react to tragedy. And I’ve got to say that observing my friends and their families deal with these extremely difficult situations with grace and style has filled me with humility and awe.
And I know it sound weird and selfish (and kinda wrong) to say, but I’m grateful to them. You see, I’ve loved my family a little more in 2008 than I did in 2007. And this year I’ve cared more, and cried more, and felt more. This year I’ve had more faith – and I’ve been more grateful – and I’ve been humbled to tears – and at the end of the day, I’ve been more alive.
Alive. Life. That’s kinda the point of it all.
In some microcosmic way, I think the Nielsons, Clarks, and Blackwells have saved me from just going through the motions of life. The price they are paying has added perspective and meaning to my life. And it’s reminded me again and again of the ultimate and incomprehensible sacrifice of our Savior.
And I plan to honor that example by becoming a better person.
P.S.
Courtney – you are amazing and inspirational. Thank goodness for modern media! Keep up the great work.
Nielson Family – you guys have been through so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Christian & Stephanie – Havelock Ellis said, “Pain and death are part of life. To reject them is to reject life itself.” In this instance I would add that morphine is also a part of life – and to reject it would be just plain dumb.
First I watched the Blackwell family deal with the loss of a child. Then, Christian and Stephanie Nielson survived a fiery plane wreck and are hanging onto life recovering from severe burns. They have a long and painful recovery ahead of them. A third passenger died in the accident.
No sane person willingly chooses to experience pain. And there’s no rhyme or reason to who or when tragedy hits. What’s interesting to see, though, is how people react to tragedy. And I’ve got to say that observing my friends and their families deal with these extremely difficult situations with grace and style has filled me with humility and awe.
And I know it sound weird and selfish (and kinda wrong) to say, but I’m grateful to them. You see, I’ve loved my family a little more in 2008 than I did in 2007. And this year I’ve cared more, and cried more, and felt more. This year I’ve had more faith – and I’ve been more grateful – and I’ve been humbled to tears – and at the end of the day, I’ve been more alive.
Alive. Life. That’s kinda the point of it all.
In some microcosmic way, I think the Nielsons, Clarks, and Blackwells have saved me from just going through the motions of life. The price they are paying has added perspective and meaning to my life. And it’s reminded me again and again of the ultimate and incomprehensible sacrifice of our Savior.
And I plan to honor that example by becoming a better person.
P.S.
Courtney – you are amazing and inspirational. Thank goodness for modern media! Keep up the great work.
Nielson Family – you guys have been through so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Christian & Stephanie – Havelock Ellis said, “Pain and death are part of life. To reject them is to reject life itself.” In this instance I would add that morphine is also a part of life – and to reject it would be just plain dumb.
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