Life and Decisions

This has been an interesting week. One of our nephews graduated today from college. He and his brother have had amazing academic careers. One thing my mother has expressed numerous times over the last several years is that she wanted to watch him graduate from college before she passes on. Yes, she says things like that. The plan was for us both to take a day off from our family business, which we rarely are able to do at the same time, and my wife was going to run the show while I drove my mother three-and-a-half hours away in wintry weather over roads I have never seen before. To be honest, though I wanted my mom to be able to see him graduate, I was not looking forward to the five a.m. wakeup in order to arrive there in time enough for the 10:30 a.m. ceremony.

I have been watching the weather forecast all week and things looked fine. Against my better judgment, I said nothing. I had this nagging statement from my father made years ago in the back of my mind. He told me that in the winter months, weather could change in a heartbeat without warning. He taught me not only to be prepared for that eventuality when traveling, but to have good sense about whether to travel or not in the first place. I know my wife though and I told her about my misgivings. Had she personally determined that the roads could be abnormally treacherous, she would have strenuously objected to the trip. Well, late Thursday night, we watched the forecast change dramatically, and yesterday morning my mom expressed to us that she didn't think we should go. She was fairly apologetic until I told her, "Hey mom--- I think you have come to your senses." She let out a sigh and a big smile and told me that she was very relieved to hear me say so. We were in complete agreement. Family members were somewhat disappointed, but such is life. I had no regrets whatsoever. That's what video is for.

Early this afternoon, my brother (who also declined to make the drive) called us to tell us that he had just heard from one of his friends. His friend's brother and sister-in-law went to the same graduation ceremony my nephew was in this morning. His sister-in-law is dead, and his brother is in the hospital. Yes. They had a car accident driving in the snowy conditions and she died. It was tragic to hear for this family, to say nothing of the young person whose family was coming to attend the observance.

I can't really describe the feelings that went through my head at the news of that call. Conflicting, to say the least. Sorrowful, and at once grateful for the decision we had made. My own sister and her husband made it back this evening and described the drive, having had whiteouts and slick roads as "tight-jawed" a couple of times. As human beings, I think we might be the only creatures on earth who are willing to do things we know are not complimentary to our own safety and survival for what are really, well---stupid reasons. Let's say that as a son, I desired (as I did) to help my mom see my nephew graduate and I drove her there only to have a wreck and see here killed before the ceremony, what would my life be like after that? I know that may sound a bit melodramatic normally, but not in view of the news we received earlier today.

My body doesn't belong to me. It belongs to God, and for His purposes. I will make an effort to live sensibly, and to keep it safe for Him to use as He sees fit. His hand is in what happens to me. I want to be able to say from here on out that I didn't make wasteful use of this gift.