I found out this morning that our down the street neighbors separated over the weekend. "Long time coming," I was told.
"Tried to work it out," our mutual friend said.
In the other direction down the street, a husband was involuntarily put in rehab for 20 + years of alcoholism.
Where have I been?
In both cases all on the outside looked OK, normal, smiles.
Inside those houses must have been a world of hurt.
Little ecosystems of coping and pain and indecision and grief.
Both families have children and pets and payments.
Everyone in our neighborhood owes more than our houses are worth these days.
Neither family has a faith community of which they are a part.
In fact, I might be the only clergy person either knows.
For both families, I am peripheral.
A nice neighbor.
A friendly face.
I'll write them a note.
And maybe give them a pretty tea pot.
Sometimes in this not fair world, things are not only not Happily Ever After,
they aren't even 'Til Death Do Us Part.
They are Until Life Rips Us Asunder.
This is holy week.
(Reflection by Rev. Laurie Furr-Vancini)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Whew! This stopped me in my tracks . . . to say the least! I wish, somehow, that we could understand Christian faith in light of this sadness and all the sadness in the world. Hard to imagine that on Sunday these families will feel joyful.
ReplyDelete