it's been such a LONG time...

Clearly there hasn't been much wit or wisdom meandering through my brain since my last post, but really that isn't true. It's amazing how one's life can change on a dime. The only thing that we can be sure of (other than our God) is that change is a comin'.

My 16 year old son and I were discussing this as I drove him to his Student Leadership meeting with his youth pastor. He was telling me that he wanted to go a few minutes early to speak to the pastor and when I carefully asked him why, he told me that he had seen a facebook entry by a young man who attends our Jr. High Youth group and that he was very concerned that this young man might try to hurt himself.

My heart dropped and then soared all in the same instant. "Well," I told him, "sometimes things happen in kids' lives that are really hard for them to deal with. I'm really proud of you for doing something about this. Really proud." My heart again squeezed in my chest - for the pain the young man must be feeling and for my son who has his own bumps along the road to teenageville.

I reminded him that life has it's ups and downs, that our world is not perfect - this is not our permanent home - and those who can live life knowing that there will be hard days and easy days, good times and bad times, happiness and sadness - those are the people that don't easily fall in the dark pit of helplessness.

I really had to lighten up the mood a bit and if you have teens you know what I'm talking about. "Son, you just gotta be the seaweed on top of the ocean sometimes...go with the flow". He looked at me sideways with "that look". It's ok, he knew what I meant. I told him how proud I was of him again - very proud.

Later on he was geting ready for bed, I came into his room and asked him what the youth pastor had said when he told him his concerns. I smiled at him and reached out to fistbump him. He looked at me and said, "nahh, how 'bout a hug?" I kid you not. I hugged him hard and turned away so he would not see my eyes filling up with tears.

Tears of happiness.