At times like these, when sadness trumps joy and tears escape more readily than laughter, I wish I could live in the arms of an embrace forever. There's something so very comforting about the touch of another human being, hands squeezing my shoulders, or fingertips dancing down my spine. In these embraces, there is safety and comfort. They don't squeeze away sadness or diffuse any sort of pain, but in the arms of those dearest to me, I know
We'll all make it, we'll all be alright.
Reality says, though, that embraces, even those liberally given, must end too. And as the arms loosen and life resumes, we're left to maneuver this new life, this different life.
Today, while on my run, I saw a dad teaching his little boy to ride a bike. The little boy, training wheels in tact, successfully rode a few feet on flat ground before starting a slow trek downhill. As his bike picked up speed, he screamed for help and his dad rushed to catch up with him, stopped his bike, and helped him climb off of it. Seeing this, I thought
An embrace. The dad rushing to his son's side was his way of embracing his son and letting him know
You'll make it, you'll be alright.
After that, the dad hauled the little boy's bike up the hill, put the boy back on the seat, and turned the bike towards the lush grass. The boy pleaded with his dad to not let go, the dad reassured the boy he'd be alright as he tapped his helmet, and then, he let the little boy go.
And down the grassy hill the little boy went.
This is life, right? Just like the little boy didn't want his dad to let go, I don't want the hugs most recently offered me to end. I don't want to stop crying into my mom's shoulder or squeezing my sister close to me. Like the little boy, though, we have to climb the seemingly impossible hill alongside those who are stronger and when we get to top, whenever that might be, we have to live as if we aren't in the arms of another, we have to live as if we have our own wings to soar. And perhaps, for awhile, we hop along the safety of grass, sticking close to those who are near and dear, but just as certain as the boy will learn to ride the bike, we will learn to live again.
I'm certain that tragedy forever changes lives, I'm certain that living will look entirely different now than it ever did before, but I'm also certain that as the embraces loosen and our wings spread, we will learn to live again.
This time, though, our souls will be infused with a sweeter spirit than before and life will sow a blessed joy, this I know is truth.
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