December 31, 2012

It's Still a Wonderful Life

I confess, there's a part of me that would prefer not to indulge in a review of 2012. It certainly would be easy to pass over, wish everyone a happy new year, and move on into 2013. But to do so would cost me an opportunity to once again reflect on the remarkable blessings and experiences brought forth by the events of this year.

When 2012 began, I had assumed that the most traumatic thing I would experience was a 4-day, 3-night adventure to Dauphin Island with 69 7th graders. It turned out to be a great trip, although exhausting. My kids, one 13 and the other 9, consume a significant part of my life, and they bring me great joy. Much of that interaction has come through Scouts, baseball and school activities. I have no idea if I'm doing well as a dad, but I couldn't be prouder of the way they have handled the crisis that befell us in March.

March 2nd has seared itself deeply upon our souls, as our house succumbed to the destructive winds of a high-end EF-2 tornado. Emotional and material recovery has colored every moment of every day this year, and will continue to mark us into 2013 as we continue rebuilding. The burden is at times overwhelming, even now, but you press on because you must. Yet even that horrible day, and the difficult days that followed, are accompanied by a tremendous outpouring of grace and blessing. A few days after the storm I wrote:

In April 2011, we did what we could to reach out to neighbors, family and strangers to support relief efforts. In March 2012, I was the recipient of the generosity of my many families: immediate, church, and work. Yesterday, 60-some people descended on our property and helped us with the first phase of salvage. Boy Scouts, members of a high school football team, two church groups, FEMA, Red Cross, and numerous volunteers from a local college tackled the mess. We have been flooded with all kinds of support, kindness and care. Last year, I considered it a tremendous blessing to serve. This weekend, I consider it a tremendous blessing to allow others to share their gifts of service for me. I am overwhelmed.

With respect to my house, the lights cannot come back on. But in the eyes and hearts of those around us these past couple of days, the light is shining. We are in good spirits, all things considered. The Lord is our rock, and our refuge, in this most certain time of trouble. I will praise Him in good times, and bad, and despite our loss, we have been given much.

As I hold my family close, I cannot help but think: I have been, and remain, very, very blessed.
I read those words now, and through the tears I can testify that they still hold true. We have been embraced by grace all year, reflected through people we know and people we're getting to know. As I wrote in my anniversary piece on the April 27, 2011 outbreak, "Are we changed? Yes. But we are together, and that means everything." And it does. Perhaps in a few months, Lord willing, we'll move back into that place we're calling (tongue-in-cheek) Chase Manor 2.0. Already, our once and future home has taken shape, familiar yet different. This, I'm sure, will bring on a whole new set of feelings to work through. But we anticipate a new beginning, and the day cannot come soon enough. What a celebration that will be!

The other night, a few days after Christmas, we sat down as a family to watch It's A Wonderful Life. The older I get, the more emotionally sensitive I become, and I allowed the tears to flow in the final scenes of this timeless classic. I've written about this movie in the past, and while I don't need to rehash it here, the truth it shares is apropos: When we give of ourselves to others, we are blessed. When we allow others to give of themselves to us, we are blessed.

So yes, 2012, while fraught with peril and difficulty, was a year of tremendous blessing. We enjoyed family breaks at Hilton Head and Disney World, and time together wherever we could make it. Yes, it is still a wonderful life. Thanks be to God!


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