Open

London is back in business!  With the devastation still being cleared, repairs yet to begin, and even with part of the tube system out of action, people are crowding on the trains, pushing their way onto the tube, and jostling for position on the bus.  On Monday I scarcely believed the experience.  I had hoped the air conditioning would now work on all the new double-decker buses, it didn’t on ours.  I was grasping at the potential to have better ways to dispose of trash in the city, no change here.  I toyed with the thought of people being more understanding, patient, and aware, not.  It was as if everyone and everything was determined things should go on as before.  No changes allowed!  No improvements possible.
 
In many ways the familiar was very assuring.  It is good to know where to stand on an escalator (on the right).  It is comforting to hear the words, “excuse me please.”  It is still special to help tourist find the right stop to get off the bus, tube, or train.  London was back in business!
 
No matter how many times I say this there are several specifics that tell me it will never be exactly the same.  The streets didn’t have the same hustle and bustle yesterday, primarily because the there was a lack of white transit vans jamming the traffic.  The missing are still missing, their faces everywhere.  I don’t think I know any of them yet it is as if they are a long lost cousin who has now passed.  The tragedy of it all, the pain of broken relationships, and the inability to do anything about it is still very fresh.
 
The other “unspoken” thing is that everything is still being done in the open; terror knows where to strike.  This isn’t new.  As with us, “Judas, his [Jesus’] betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often.” (John 18.2)  This is the risk one takes when striving for the most life has to offer!
 
Today it’s time to write a new page.