Pain, Living, and Moving
It’s been said that “pain reminds you that you’re alive.” These days it seems life is known - made real, if you will - through our feelings. I won’t try and get into why that is for us… but I feel it tonight.
We had a “Big Night” dinner at my house tonight. More than twenty guests showed up, and I’m at least aquaintances with all of them. I spent most of the night talking with two in particular: Garrett and Sarah, two good friends I feel a unique connection with.
They’re both artists, thinkers, free spirits, well read, philosophical, funny, well traveled… and living proof that marriage can still be a great thing between two people.
They’re moving to New Mexico in about a week for school (him) and for work (her, she’s going to be a 7th grade teacher). The impending loss of their presence pains me.
The stabbing grief of people you love move away from one’s own small circle of existence… its suddeness and edge surprised me.
One of my thoughts was, “Wow. I am still alive.” Another was something a mentor of mine said to me recently: moving isn’t all about losing friends and relationships. There’s also the recognition that for a season, God has brought a rich blessing into your life and everyone involved is better off than if they had never met at all.
There’s truth in that. I’m still sad though.