The banter was light and enjoyable. It had been a stressful day. As I headed out to the airport, I found myself enjoying the conversation, looking forward to more. Out of the blue, a comment and question caught me on the blind side. I did not see it coming. There was no anticipation, preparedness, or readiness. What followed was a conversation that went from bad to worse.
I know that I have no excuses for feeling bad. I have friends. I am able to contribute. In most conversations, I discover new sources of hope and possibilities. Life it could easily be a lot worse! Even as I pause from my writing, there is a long list of people and memories to be thankful for.
Yet I have a fresh appreciation for how challenging it can be for anyone that is blindsided. Physically or metaphorically, one loses the wind within. The Hope that was present moments before seems to have vanished! Nothing is as it was – at least that is what it feels like for me. I wonder how anyone survives it.
In today’s Chennai Times there are two articles documenting how overwhelming life is. In both cases, people far too young have passed. They are tragic reminders of broken lives, fragile relationships, and the role we play with Hope in the lives of others.
I do not have any immediate insight into why. I do know the real question at hand. What will you or I do next?
As I wrestled with the challenge last night, a reminder came across my screen. “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” (Psalm 34.18)
I am holding onto this remind. A friend reached out this morning to tell me that he was going to be late on a deliverable because life was overwhelming. In sharing his blindsided hit, I felt the embrace of another and a sense of Hope. Now is the time to release compassion, mercy, and a sense of the possible.
