Wipeout

Staying on the topic of time...

Our church went Christmas Carolling last night. I was able to go see some folks I haven't seen in a very long time (something that I admit is completely my own fault and should NOT be!) One very young-at-heart lady who rode along with me talked about finding it difficult to believe that some of our senior members at church were actually as old as they are - in years that is. Then she realized that if she were only honest with herself about her own age, then it should not be so difficult to comprehend others' ages. If Mr and Mrs were her Junior High advisors, then they had to have been at least 20 years older than herself, so that should make them around.....

Time. It carries us along like a tidal wave and half the time we don't even realize it. Here we are in the midst of this racing rush and we are so focused on...well, something...that we don't even notice that...

• our children have grown into adulthood
• those we once depended upon to help carry the load cannot carry as much any longer
• those we love feel abandoned because life has changed their routines for them and left them behind while ours continue and even become more complicated
• we have changed, maybe in small ways that really don't matter to anyone but ourselves, and sometimes in very big ways that make a difference to many

The list could go on and on, I supposed. Maybe I have just been made aware of my own age and how much time has passed without my being aware and the time that I possibly could have ahead of me. I think, though, that I need to try to become more aware of the wave that I am riding, take a look at the life that is riding along with me. I need to try to keep the ones that are pushed ahead and the ones that get pushed backward in my sight and within the sound of my voice and the ones that get pulled under, I need to try to hold their hand for as long as I can. I need to learn how to swim, much better than I do now - for my own sake and for those around me, so I can help them when needed and so I don't drag them down.