The Journey Continues...

A few years ago, I read Toni Morrison's Beloved. It was a powerful book; I found myself unwilling to read anything else for some weeks afterward. Powerful, painful, perfect in itself--nothing else tempted me.

It has been over a month now since I really have done any writing. The grief of loss, the worried concern, the guilt of joy in the midst of others' sorrow...so many feelings beyond the scope of language.

I remember how guilty I felt the first time I ate after my father's death. I also remember the unreasonable dislike I had for the dried flowers a well-meaning friend gave me. Life is relentless. It moves forward.

And today I am excited and happy because I am about to make the four hour drive that will get me to the airport to meet my husband. My daughters and I will sing to our iPods as we travel to my mother's home. They will be writing their Christmas wish-list for me to take as I continue the journey alone.

I will be at the airport gate when his flight arrives. I will cry. I will be happier than I have been for a very long time, in the arms of my beloved.

But I don't think I can forget those who cannot be.

The Plane was Found

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Standin' in the Need of Prayer...

This day has passed in a fog of laundry and sundry other little household duties sandwiched between prayers. Poised between dread and hope, we wait for word of my friend's husband. He is a pilot. He flew out of Sioux Lookout yesterday evening with two passengers, bound for Cat Lake. The plane never reached its destination.

Make Me Brave for Life

God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.
God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.
God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

-- Author Unknown