meditatio at the water's edge

It's 12:30 a.m. My family is away for the weekend. Kathy is with some water's edge people down in Cincinnati @ the Not-Alone conference. The kids are spending two nights with the grandparents - one night with each set. I love it that they still have grandparents who can take them for a night. I remember those days myself, and my grandparents were formative in my life.

But, this old farm house is incredibly quiet, a sense of emptiness as my kids are not sleeping upstairs. Neither is Kathy present and available to converse. The house feels a bit cold, and a sense of loneliness has swept into my being. I've turned on the t.v., and I'm listening to the David Crowder band...

I've just been reminded of how quickly life can seem to change seasons. Tomorrow, God willing, my house will return to the craziness of our more normal life. But, I am reminded that a tragedy is only one step away from my life being set upside down. I thank God for the goodness that I currently enjoy. I also grieve for those who have felt the depths of pain and/or despair in their lives in recent months.

While God reigns completely, we have a long ways to go to see "thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven."