Faye………

I just got word that my college roommate and loving friend has died. I wrote an earlier post about her influence on my life, but a lot of that needs repeating, which in some way might make this reality a bit easier to process.

Faye contacted polio when she was about twelve, and for the rest of her life she used body and leg braces, crutches, and wheel chairs to navigate life. That navigation, I might mention, included, a stellar college career at Madison College, a Masters degree from Tulane, University, and a career of working with handicapped children in Virginia. So what’s that say to the rest of us.

She celebrated each of my girls as they arrived, she married a kind and understanding husband and held her family close. A dear great niece of hers sought me out when she came to JMU, and tolerated my stories of Faye and me as coeds and our tales of restrictions on us that made her laugh…such as having to wear a raincoat over any wearing of trousers or gym clothes when on campus.

She will forever be a positive force in my life and a very important memory of perseverance in the face of unwarranted obstacles. Rest well my friend.

Newness…..

Trying out a new web server for my musings, as that is how I best describe my writings.  Lately there’s been too much newness in my life.  Something there is about Change at my age that is a bit troubling, although sometimes exhilarating with new great grandchildren, and new careers for family members, but the news of a beloved minister moving to a new field of service will be one of those changes that will take some time of adjustment.

Newness is very often not a bad time.  As one of my daughters reminded me in her tribute to my 80th birthday.  When we don’t change,when we are content like mushrooms, sitting in goop up to our chins, we die.  Newness is life, newness is anticipation, newness is what we celebrate with this season as we await the birth of one who will tear open the heavens and come down to change our lives.  Newness….embrace it