It Is No More, But It Still Is

Yesterday…

…walking in the afternoon. There was a beautiful sunset – different shades of blue sky, red and orange sun, white and grey clouds. As we walked the colours changed. We stopped several times to look.

We shall never see that particular sunset again, but we shall enjoy other sunsets in the future.

…reading about Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington. She enjoys being a mother to two children:

‘Although I have found such joy in motherhood the last few months have been the toughest of my life. Last year Andy and I were excited to be expecting again, but we were devastated at the 20-week scan when it was discovered there was no heartbeat. Our daughter Harper was born sleeping on October 20… Harper will be part of our family forever. She will always be our daughter.’

Harper is no more, but she still is.

…watching a woman being interviewed on TV. Her son is in prison for a drug related crime. She’s looking after his daughter, taking her to the prison to see her dad. The father-daughter relationship is being built up through a ‘homework club’.

Mum said, ‘Not everyone gets it right the first time.’ She’s looking at an imperfect situation positively. The past can’t be changed. It is no more. Her future with her son and grand-daughter is real; together they can build something good.

…at church Lou was talking about Jonah. God tells Jonah ‘Go to Ninevah’… Jonah goes in the opposite direction… there’s a storm and a big fish… Jonah prays… Jonah goes to Nineveh… the Ninevites turn to God… Jonah gets angry and sulks…

At each point Jonah has decisions to make. He brings on his own trouble and problems. He can’t change his past but he can always change his present actions and attitudes.

Today…

…musing on my past that is no more, things I’ve done, people I’ve known, mistakes I’ve made. But it still is… in my memory, experience, developing my character, making me the person I am.