Three Days in April
I cannot think of a more descriptive
heading for this blog than the foregoing title.
For you see, three successive days this
month, April 11th, 12th and 13th, have proven
to be virtual watershed moments in my own life, as well as some of those with
whom I have to do.
April 11th
My God-daughter’s husband had
envisioned this day from its theoretical beginnings. Travis and I collaborated
together towards the achievement of a significant goal since the beginning of
the decade. To be sure, he is one of the most single-minded persons in this or
any other universe, and a Person of Excellence. And his team included a myriad
of others, not the least of whom was, (and continues to be) his wife, Jaci.
Nonetheless, over the years I suppose I fine-tuned several hundred pages of his
graduate level papers, and perhaps more importantly provided him what I regard
as a wealth of wise counsel.
Today theory clothed itself in reality,
and my God-son in law, Lt. Travis Wilson, was appointed an active duty chaplain
in the United States Army!
FRUITION
April 12th
As I finished pedaling my nightly 10
mile trek, and laid down to what should have otherwise been pleasant dreams, I
was rudely awakened by the incessant ringing of my cell phone.
This half-completed decade has been
anything but prosperous years for my mother. My father succumbed to a stroke,
and shortly thereafter my mother sustained a fall and broke her physical (and)
proverbial hip. Physical in terms of admittance to a skilled nursing facility
for the purpose of intensive rehabilitation, and proverbial in relation to a
gradual decline in her spirit; (and to which countless patients in her
circumstances have been subjected).
The R.N. on the other end of the line
informed me that she thought my mother had experienced a stroke, that she was
unresponsive, and that I should make my way to the nursing facility, as soon as
possible.
Upon arrival on the premises, and
having walked into Room 24, my mother’s condition was as had been described to
me. Her eyes were closed, her head was lying sideways on the pillow, and her
respirations were quick and raspy. Oddly enough, after about 15 minutes, and
with some prompting, mama rallied a bit, opened her eyes, and became quietly
coherent, and communicative. While my mother denied having heard my voice, or
that of any other family member, prior to rallying from her troubled dreams, I
have little doubt something in our tender provocations briefly brought her back
to us. A precious respite from the promised visitation, as old as Adam, and
awaiting every man and beast which ever inhabited this planet.
Ultimately, my mother’s previous
symptoms returned, and with the passing hours her breathing became more
labored, her vital signs spiraled downward, and the pallor of death confused
her complexion. And as daylight gave way to dusk, our dear and devoted mother
slipped quietly into the strong arms of Him who was from the beginning, and in
whom we are given sure and everlasting promises.
FINALITY
April 13th
Over the course of multiplied weeks, my
young grandson, Noah, has experienced some pretty severe gastronomic symptoms;
beginning with a case of the flu. And since these symptoms began he has been
unable to attend school, and has spent every weekday with my wife and I.
Ultimately, “something had to give,”
and suspecting his pain might be symptomatic of systemic issues, various scopes
and scans were introduced, and a surgeon was consulted. When it “was all said
and done,” the doctor concluded my grandson’s gall bladder should be removed.
In the past few minutes, my wife phoned
and reported that the surgery had gone well, and the offending organ was
excised. No further intervention is required.
FITNESS
3 days. 3 persons. 3 stages.
Fruition. Fitness. Finality
A beginning. A continuation. An ending.
The circle to which we will all
sometime contend.
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