The Great Crescendo.

This week I was gifted the opportunity to sit between two realities.

One of which was knocking on death’s doorstep. The other is on the cusp of welcoming new life.

The beginning and the end. Of Life.

We tend to celebrate the happening of both - death and life.

For some, when death comes, it’s at the end of 103 years of life, where your final years were spent being. Both being be’d with and being with others. Present to what is around you while moving at the pace and peace of the seasons.

For others, when death comes, it comes like a thief in the night. Unbeknownst to you, the back door was unlocked, and it’s come to ransack the whole place and everyone near.

For some, when life comes, it wasn’t planned, hardly prepared for, but eagerly welcomed. And sometimes not.

For others, when life comes, it’s all we can talk about or be talked to about…It’s a season of preparation, celebration, questions, fears, worries, and waiting.

But the real opportunity we’ve been given seems to lie somewhere between, somewhere between life and death.

Have you ever thought about it that way, that really we are somewhere between life and death? And, really, none of us know where exactly we are in that betweenness.

Pause.

Now, some of you may be thinking….I’ve read the good book; there is life after death for me. Some of you may be thinking, dang - this is morbid; why the heck do I want to wake up and read this on Friday morning at 7?

All of ya’s - hear me out. I am not contesting where you’re headed after this life, nor do I believe it will it leave you feeling super down upon finishing.

Worst case, it takes 5ish minutes of your morning and slows you down. Which doesn't sound that bad to me. Best case, it pauses you long enough to reflect and ask yourself some good questions.

Yeah, I called my questions good. You’ll have to keep reading to find out for yourself.

Come on, let’s get back to it.

Why do we as a society celebrate so loudly the entering and the exiting of life but neglect the daily celebrations?

You woke up today. I woke up today. We woke up today.

The sun rose today.

We breathed today.

Grass hid creepy crawly things today.

Water flowed today.

Trails were worn down today.

Trees reached upward today.

Birds sang today.

The wind blew today.

Clouds hung low, high, or hid today.

People laughed today.

People shared meals today.

People cried today.

People listened today.

People disagreed today.

People lived today.

Communities grew today.

The sun will set today.

As you read this, did your mind wander up and wonder? Did your mind wander down and rest in the setting of the sun?

What would my life look like if I understood a bit more about where I stand today - in the space between?

Who would I call? Where would I go? Who would I hug? What would I eat? Who would I apologize to? What would I let go of? What would I not let go of?

This week as I sat between two beautiful and contrasting realities. I was overwhelmed with grace for those on either side. Because they, too, are a lot like me - somewhere between life and death, fumbling their way through this moment in time, probably doing the best they can with what they got.

At least, I am willing to bet they are.

One of which is wrestling with the reality of death, while the other is the reality of life.

What will you do with your time - in the space between?

What will you do today?

May you be reminded that it is in the short, sweet gap between life and death that you are gifted with the opportunity to live.

So, what will you do with your time?

Dear friend, wrestling with the potential loss of a loved one, or even the loss of a loved one, I am sorry.

Dear friend, anticipating the arrival of new life, keep showing up and pressing in.

May you, dear friends, be reminded that we are in it with you, and it’s in the in-between - where we gifted the simple gift of being be’d with and being with.

Thanks for stopping by. Talk again soon!

Thanks for being you!