"Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one."
~Dean Koontz, The Darkest Evening Of The Year
A lot has happened in the last 24 hours. Not to me, I am fine, but to my good friend and neighbor, and of course to the people of Oklahoma City and Moore Oklahoma. By now you most of the details of what occurred in Oklahoma, and that it's going to be a long night. Needless to say I am in prayer for them, and I am sending as many loving thoughts as I can their way. I hope in some small way they will feel our collective prayers, and more good news, than bad, will come with the morning light.
My friend and neighbor, Opal, has been through a devastating time in the last 5 weeks, having lost 6 members of her family, including her beloved kitty, and my personal buddy Sebastiani. I shall miss our talks. He loved to come by and chatter with me, and seemed perfectly happy with my occasional..."What? Really? And then what did you do?" He was a tuxedo like Elvis, so it made the property a much nicer place having another tux to care about. He was my friend. So it's hard to know that as Opal's friend and neighbor, there isn't much we can do to help.
I am making her a flower arrangement this evening, to take by tomorrow, and I have a card for her, which assures her the phone is always on if she needs us, but it doesn't feel like much help. You know how it is... if you can take the pain from someone you care about, and hold it for them till they catch their breath... you would. But you can't. So all you can do is just be there if they need you, and we will be.
It's so strange, I didn't think I would find the perfect quote for this post from Dean Koontz, but I really believe what he wrote captures the feeling of the situations. Devastation if an unfortunate balance to the times of joy and prosperity. It's life. But knowing it, doesn't make it easier, just more understandable. Understandable. What a word. What a world. And a new day begins at midnight. I, for one, count myself lucky that I live where I do, on the coast of a passive ocean. Earthquakes? They don't cross my mind often, it's just a part of living where I do.
It's life.
And I thank God for it daily.
Mood: Quiet
~Me :)
