Matt appears to have "misplaced" (lost) his phone and after several hours of searching, we suspect it is somewhere in Kmart where he joined the other milling Christmas cattle. I got a text message from his lost phone around midnight, with one word: Tired.
I have received many emails with friends lamenting this year about how hectic the season is, how hard it is to find the Christmas "spirit". Traffic jams everywhere; airport looking like someone just stepped on an ant nest. Too many parties with too many strangers manufacturing an excitement that often is just masking exhaustion.
I love holidays but I have always felt melancholy in the pit of my stomach. They are never quite what I anticipate, and when they are over, I know life returns to the work, and school, and dailiness that can best anyone.
My oldest son Anders who rarely comes home from his busy new career and life in Boston got in last night. For the first time in many months, our entire family is together again. I know those times will become increasingly rare, and so I stayed up til midnight to relish every second, and then am up early this morning. It is enough to know that all around me, my dear family is snoring.
Today we will suspend phone service to Matt's phone, and guess who is getting a new phone for Christmas? But I am a little hesitant to shut off contact with "Tired". Maybe we are his only contact, and maybe he is struggling to find a family that will shelter him however briefly from all the silliness and excess of this holiday. I can relate to his angst, and so before I suspend service, I will text him this verse:
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
It is amazing how much the characatures look like their dopplegangers.... except I am sure you did not look as totally worn out as you painted yourself.
ReplyDeleteAs for the phone, let us know how that comes out. Interesting.