I keep getting the same message lately.
It has come to me in many forms and in many ways. Both deep and intense and light hearted reminders. I do believe in the synchronicity of the Universe. The message: Cherish each moment you have. Cherish those that you love, those that move you. Tell them how important they are.
Just this week, I got this message twice.
The first came from my good friend from college who now lives in Los Angeles.
She called to tell me that her 27 year old sister had a cardiac arrest that kept her
in the hospital for over 2 weeks. She is rehabilitating slowly and may never fully recover.
27. Healthy. Positive free spirit of light.
How do I console my friend? I am lost at what to do. Maybe there is nothing I can do or say, and I know that to be true. But I also know that there is something about the presence of your friend, there when you need her, that can make all the difference in your moment, in your day..in your life.
The second came with a call from my own Sister.
One of her life long friends called to tell her that she is dropping off her 8 year old with my sister because she needs to get to the hospital her brother is in. Her brother is recovering from surgery. Two weeks ago, a relative told her brother that they (their family) may be predisposed to colon cancer and he should start regular checkups. He felt fine at the time but thought that he would go ahead and get it checked out.
Turns out, he had undiagnosed colon cancer and was immediately scheduled for surgery. While the doctors were in there, they spotted 2 lesions on his liver. Two days after surgery, still in the hospital with tubes running every which way, his doctor told him he has about 24 months of life left.
What?
What do you do with news like that? How do you console the patient? The friend? While thanking God that it is not you this time... and please, please don't let it be.
Any one of us could have 24 months and not know it. No tomorrow is guaranteed.
I miss the freedom of childhood.
The unabashed happiness and turmoil that was completely self centered and self absorbing. I miss not having to think about how to greet death, or be friends with uncertainty.
This evening, I participated in a war protest. A candlelight vigil of prayers for fallen soldiers and Iraqi civilians on this 4th anniversary of the Campaign of Shock and Awe. We sang songs of hope heard the names of those lost to the people in the crowd. I was grateful that I did not have a name to recite. That the person I knew serving in Iraq, just came home last month and is okay. But I mourned for those others... I mourn for my friends...
I also hold out hope for them and their families. I hold out my little candle of light in hope.
It has come to me in many forms and in many ways. Both deep and intense and light hearted reminders. I do believe in the synchronicity of the Universe. The message: Cherish each moment you have. Cherish those that you love, those that move you. Tell them how important they are.
Just this week, I got this message twice.
The first came from my good friend from college who now lives in Los Angeles.
She called to tell me that her 27 year old sister had a cardiac arrest that kept her
in the hospital for over 2 weeks. She is rehabilitating slowly and may never fully recover.
27. Healthy. Positive free spirit of light.
How do I console my friend? I am lost at what to do. Maybe there is nothing I can do or say, and I know that to be true. But I also know that there is something about the presence of your friend, there when you need her, that can make all the difference in your moment, in your day..in your life.
The second came with a call from my own Sister.
One of her life long friends called to tell her that she is dropping off her 8 year old with my sister because she needs to get to the hospital her brother is in. Her brother is recovering from surgery. Two weeks ago, a relative told her brother that they (their family) may be predisposed to colon cancer and he should start regular checkups. He felt fine at the time but thought that he would go ahead and get it checked out.
Turns out, he had undiagnosed colon cancer and was immediately scheduled for surgery. While the doctors were in there, they spotted 2 lesions on his liver. Two days after surgery, still in the hospital with tubes running every which way, his doctor told him he has about 24 months of life left.
What?
What do you do with news like that? How do you console the patient? The friend? While thanking God that it is not you this time... and please, please don't let it be.
Any one of us could have 24 months and not know it. No tomorrow is guaranteed.
I miss the freedom of childhood.
The unabashed happiness and turmoil that was completely self centered and self absorbing. I miss not having to think about how to greet death, or be friends with uncertainty.
This evening, I participated in a war protest. A candlelight vigil of prayers for fallen soldiers and Iraqi civilians on this 4th anniversary of the Campaign of Shock and Awe. We sang songs of hope heard the names of those lost to the people in the crowd. I was grateful that I did not have a name to recite. That the person I knew serving in Iraq, just came home last month and is okay. But I mourned for those others... I mourn for my friends...
I also hold out hope for them and their families. I hold out my little candle of light in hope.
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