To Love, From Afar

It is so much easier to love from a distance. Sending kind word over an ocean, or having quality time through a wire. Loving face to face is a challenge. Maybe it always has been, and technology just made relationship a little more consistant. I was inspired to think in this direction after thanksgiving dinner. There is so much heartache in some family dynamics. This year, I was painfully aware of it in mine.

Before I say much more, it is important to note that Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. I always have the highest of hopes for a picture perfect weekend (leaves painting the landscape with beautiful warm hues, familys hand in hand, delicious meals, intimate conversations over wine in a candlelit living room). The weekends almost never turn out as perfect as I see them in my mind, but they are always lovely in their own way. This year was a little different.

My parents are moving around the block. They spend the day over at the new house, preparing for a man to come and put a floor down. My little brother (and best friend after Beck) is in North Carolina for a year. My other brother was (we assumed) out with friends. I (with great dedication to the holiday) spent the morning slaving away. I made 2 apple pies the night before. I made a turkey with stuffing, squash, sweet potatoe casarole, creamed peas and croissants. I bought wine, apple cider, and maple walnut ice cream for the pies. It was going to be wonderful. My exausted parents showed up a half hour before the meal. The whole meal was spent in frustration over the fact that my brother had forgotten about thanksgiving. After the meal, we began to clean up...and Noah walked up the stairs. It turned out that he had been sleeping, waiting for us to wake him up for the meal.

I once learned to juggle. Try as I may...I just couldn't get it down. The balls flew everywhere...and I tried with everything in me to keep track of them. That is what the emotions were like this afternoon. There was nothing I could do. That is what led me to thinking...wow...Love is easier to manage from a distance. I am really good at holding things together when I am outside of the situation. Once I am involved face to face things are so different. I become another noise in the background or something. I don't know. Its just a new observation.

I was thinking how Jesus loved everyone face to face. How much more could he have done with technology...maybe that is why he didn't come during the millenium. People have gotten so lazy. I mean, back then...they travelled on foot for days to see him. Now...we would lazily turn on our computers, and see if we could find him on youtube...and imagine if we found out you had to pay for all his sermons...oh dear. We are a strange society.

Hmm. Just some things to think about. As for my holiday...its not over. There is still opportunity for things to turn for the better. The leaves are still gorgeous, and the food was good.

Happy thanksgiving everyone (again).
Love you all.