Last week one of my friends said to me, 'I'm starting to think that there are no coincidences."
I'm inclined to agree with her. this comment came after I told her about being passed by a friend on the highway on the way home from school.
It got me thinking about the other coincidences that have happened in my life.
Is it just coincidence that I was accepted into the U of I's School of Social Work program, this year, where I have made what will probably be lifelong friends?
Is it coincidence that my mom had leukemia and my step-sister's dad also had leukemia? And that I am great friends with my step-sister?
Is is coincidence that friends of mine were prevented from flying to Asia the day after the most wanted terrorist was killed?
Is it coincidence that my internship and Seth's new job start on the exact same day and that neither one of us had any control over our start dates?
I think I am becoming more convinced that there are no coincidences. The orchestration of God is nothing short of amazing. I'm no Calvinist, but I certainly think that it is amazing the way God works in the details. I love the rare moments I am able to recognize God's hand in the details.
I'm starting to think there are no coincidences.
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Becoming An Adult
Even though I am married and live on my own and am financially independent (so to speak) I still have moments where I do not feel like I am really an adult. Honestly, the moments I feel like an adult are rarer than the moments I do not.
Later today I am going to a visitation for the father of one of my friends. I don't know either one of her parents. I know that her dad had some type of cancer and that it this wasn't a total surprise.
When Seth told me last night that he had died, in that instant I felt about ten years older. I knew instantly that we had to go and support our friend. I think the last time I went to a visitation was five years ago when a girl I went to high school with was tragically killed in a car accident. That was different though, we all realized we were far too young to be attending the funeral of one of our peers. We knew that it wasn't natural or normal for people so young to die and we were all still kids, having just graduated from high school a few months earlier.
This time, it's not a peer, it's the father of a friend. Instead of making me realize the fragility of my own life, it makes me realize that this is part of becoming an adult, part of getting older.
I can't help but be reminded of how my own mom died from leukemia almost fourteen years ago. I can't help but remember how alone I felt when none of my friends came to the visitation. I can't help but think of how their silence around me was so offensive to me. I can't help but think that I don't want any friend of mine to have to go through that.
I instinctively wanted to go to the visitation when I heard the news. And that is how I know I am growing up. Instead of having an internal battle with myself, I just knew I had to go and there was nothing more to think about. I know it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but my decision has been made. I know that I need to go because there's a hurting person who is probably hoping that her friends will show up, if for no other reason than to take her mind off of all the hurt she is surrounded by.
Later today I am going to a visitation for the father of one of my friends. I don't know either one of her parents. I know that her dad had some type of cancer and that it this wasn't a total surprise.
When Seth told me last night that he had died, in that instant I felt about ten years older. I knew instantly that we had to go and support our friend. I think the last time I went to a visitation was five years ago when a girl I went to high school with was tragically killed in a car accident. That was different though, we all realized we were far too young to be attending the funeral of one of our peers. We knew that it wasn't natural or normal for people so young to die and we were all still kids, having just graduated from high school a few months earlier.
This time, it's not a peer, it's the father of a friend. Instead of making me realize the fragility of my own life, it makes me realize that this is part of becoming an adult, part of getting older.
I can't help but be reminded of how my own mom died from leukemia almost fourteen years ago. I can't help but remember how alone I felt when none of my friends came to the visitation. I can't help but think of how their silence around me was so offensive to me. I can't help but think that I don't want any friend of mine to have to go through that.
I instinctively wanted to go to the visitation when I heard the news. And that is how I know I am growing up. Instead of having an internal battle with myself, I just knew I had to go and there was nothing more to think about. I know it will be awkward and uncomfortable, but my decision has been made. I know that I need to go because there's a hurting person who is probably hoping that her friends will show up, if for no other reason than to take her mind off of all the hurt she is surrounded by.
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