113 - For Leaving

September 14, 2000

My 22 year old daughter moved home for several weeks this summer. It was an interesting contrast to the last time she lived at home, the summer after graduating from high school. Our relationship has flourished since that time. Now that she is back in her own apartment, I really miss having her around.

I thought of that when a friend wrote me about the difficulties, truly the anguish and pride she was having over sending her first-born off to college. I remember how it felt. No matter how well we think we have prepared our child, and prepared ourselves, the move away into the adult world is daunting. So with all partings, all change.

One Hundred Thirteen

For Leaving

You divide our attentions, Courage Builder,
Growing callouses around our affections
So the fingers playing out these tunes of loss
Are toughened against the leaving.

You wander with us through aisles of distractions,
Holding our lists, binding up our abrasions
With reminders of practicalities, touches
That lend reality to our intention.

You divide our attentions, Courage Builder
With Your call to focus, to function,
To make new arrangements for changed days
Even as we shrink from imagining.

You are there for us, Holy One,
Bearing the unadorned truth of love
That holds and holds and then lets go,
Honoring Your design.

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