Joy vs. Sorrow

My last 24 hours were contrasts on such heightened levels I honestly don’t know where to begin.

On Sunday evening I had the privilege of being a groomsman in a wedding of two lovely people who joyfully celebrated the beginning of a new life together.

On Monday I found out that a buddy of mine was hit by a car while on a morning jog and being held in the ICU in critical condition after emergency brain surgery.

On Sunday we danced, we laughed, we sang; we celebrated the hope of promise.  We watched the bride and groom scurry off in their car together, driving away to applause, driving away to celebrate.

Monday came, and my heart felt so heavy that all I could do was pray wordless prayers from deep within; the reality that this family would be forever changed, forever different, forever missing something in the blink of an eye.

I don’t know what to do with these contrasts, other than to hold them both in my emotions – on one side, joy for a friend; on the other, deep grief.

I do know that life carries with it the unexpected.  Sometimes the unexpected comes in the form of great news, while at other times severe tragedies. 

But I’m having a hard time with the bad surprises.  They are really difficult to accept.

All I know is that its probably time to give somebody a hug today, or settle that long-lasting spat, or tell your kids that you love them.  Maybe it’s time to follow your dreams and start that book you’ve been wanting to write, or enroll in that program you’ve been dreaming about, or give your wife some flowers.

Whatever it is, do it. 

Because we all are offered a finite number of opportunities to spread a little joy around the people in our lives.  And truthfully, we’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

So go ahead, get on with it already; go out there and make someone’s day today. 

And if God blesses you with tomorrow, go out and make that one a better day than today.  And keep doing that until you’ve got nothing left in you, because God knows, we could all use a little more of the light you have to offer in our lives…